With a slew of free-flowing parts, every soccer game paints its own unique picture. Well, most every game, anyway. Ever since Lionel Messi put pen to paper down in Florida, Inter Miami’s games have tended to look awfully similar from one weekend to the next.
When Messi and friends stepped on the field for the first time two years ago, Miami instantly became a lethal attacking team and a mistake-riddled defensive one.
Last year, Inter Miami’s first full season with their upgraded roster, they were a bottom-half defensive team based on non-penalty xG even as they led the league in goals scored. In this year’s regular season, Inter Miami once again led MLS in goals…while slipping even further down the defensive rankings. No automatic playoff team allowed more non-penalty xG than Miami, according to FBref. The oldest team in the league, one headlined by at least one immobile superstar in every line and budget-friendly options glueing them together, Inter Miami’s defensive frailties have been obvious.
Until now, that is.
