Inter Miami Faces Columbus Crew in Leagues Cup

Inter Miami is set to face Columbus Crew in the Round of 16 of the Leagues Cup, but they will be without key players, including captain Lionel Messi, who is sidelined with an ankle injury. Miami's coach, Tata Martino, will also be missing defender David Martínez due to a red card suspension, adding to a list of absentees including Nicolás Freire and Facundo Farías. Despite these challenges, Miami aims to defend its title against a strong Columbus Crew team, which recently defeated Sporting Kansas City 4-0. The matchup is seen as highly competitive, with Miami previously defeating Columbus 2-1 in their last meeting. The winners will advance to the quarterfinals to face either New York City FC or Tigres. Both teams have a rich history of competition, with Miami historically leading their encounters.