Inter Miami CF vs. DC United Prediction, Match Preview and Betting Tips, 21 September 2025

Inter Miami CF hosts DC United on 21 September 2025 at 00:30 in Major League Soccer’s 31st round at Chase Stadium. With 30 teams in the competition and four rounds left, this is a pivotal match for both clubs.

Inter Miami, coached by Javier Mascherano, sits in 9th position with 49 points. Led by Lionel Messi, their top scorer with 20 goals, they come into this match as favorites with bookmaker odds at 1.33 for a home win. Despite some recent inconsistencies, Inter Miami boasts a strong attack, averaging 1.40 goals in their last five matches and having a potent home record.

DC United, on the other hand, struggles in 28th place with 25 points. René Weiler’s side has been battling for form, shown by their recent LDDWD record. Christian Benteke, their top scorer with 8 goals, leads the attack but faces a tough challenge against a Miami team that hasn’t lost at home in six consecutive matches.

Both teams are plagued by injuries and suspensions, impacting their formation choices. The weather at Chase Stadium will play a vital role, although details are currently unknown.

Match Prediction: Inter Miami CF is expected to secure a home win given their superior form, league position, and strong home record. Recommended bet: A home win for Inter Miami CF.

Key Match Facts:

• Inter Miami CF hasn’t lost at home in six consecutive MLS matches.
• DC United has scored in 73% of their away games this season.
• Inter Miami’s high-scoring attack led by Messi.

Inter Miami CF vs DC United Prediction & Betting Tip

Inter Miami CF vs DC United Prediction
Betting tip	Odds
Home Win for Inter Miami CF	1.33

Best Bet Recommendation: Home Win for Inter Miami CF

Reasoning:

1. Team Form and Performance: Inter Miami CF is in better form with a recent record of DWLLW compared to DC United’s LDDWD. Inter Miami is 9th in the standings, while DC United is 28th, indicating a significant gap in performance levels.
2. Scoring Ability: Inter Miami has a potent attack, scoring 57 goals in 27 matches, with Lionel Messi contributing 20 goals. In contrast, DC United has scored only 27 goals in 30 matches.
3. Defensive Comparison: While both teams have defensive vulnerabilities, Inter Miami’s overall performance and goal-scoring ability give them an edge.

Given these factors, a Home Win for Inter Miami CF is the safest and most supported bet.

Inter Miami CF vs DC United Odds

This matchup between Inter Miami CF and DC United has clear favorites according to the bookmakers. Here’s a breakdown of the betting odds:

Inter Miami CF vs DC United Betting Odds
Bet	Odds
Inter Miami CF	1.33
Draw	5.23
DC United	7.48

Inter Miami CF is heavily favored to win this match, reflecting their superior form and league standing. With a potent attack led by Lionel Messi, who has scored 20 goals this season, and a strong home record, the odds are solidly in their favor at 1.33.

DC United, struggling in 28th place, faces an uphill battle. Their odds for a win are set at a high 7.48, indicating low confidence from bookmakers. A draw, set at 5.23, is also deemed unlikely but offers better returns.

Given these odds, betting on an Inter Miami CF win seems the safest and most logical choice.

Inter Miami CF Team Analysis

Inter Miami CF Recent Performance

Date	Competition	Opponent	Score	Result
16 Sep 2025	Major League Soccer	Seattle Sounders FC	3-1	Win
13 Sep 2025	Major League Soccer	Charlotte FC	0-3	Loss
01 Sep 2025	Leagues Cup Final Stage	Seattle Sounders FC	0-3	Loss
28 Aug 2025	Leagues Cup Final Stage	Orlando City	3-1	Win
23 Aug 2025	Major League Soccer	DC United	1-1	Draw

Inter Miami CF has had a mixed bag of results in their recent fixtures, with a form of DWLLW. Despite their recent inconsistency, they’ve been able to score an average of 1.40 goals in their last five games, although they’ve kept zero clean sheets in that span.

Their attack, led by Lionel Messi, remains potent as ever, contributing to their recent victories against Seattle Sounders FC and Orlando City. However, their defensive lapses, conceding an average of 1.6 goals per match in the season, have cost them.

With a crucial match against DC United, Inter Miami CF will need to leverage their home strength and scoring ability to secure a win.

Inter Miami CF Key Players

Inter Miami CF’s success heavily relies on some star players, starting with Lionel Messi. The Argentine maestro is the league’s top scorer with 20 goals this season, making him a constant threat to any defense.

Supporting Messi in the midfield are the experienced Sergio Busquets and Rodrigo De Paul. Their vision and ability to control the tempo of the game are crucial for Inter Miami’s attacking play. Jordi Alba, who frequently joins the attack from the left flank, adds another layer to their offensive prowess.

The defense, although a bit shaky recently, will look to stabilize with Oscar Ustari in goal and a backline featuring Ian Fray, Tomas Aviles, Maximiliano Falcón, and Noah Allen.

Expected lineup for Inter Miami CF:

• Goalkeeper: Oscar Ustari
• Defenders: Ian Fray, Tomas Aviles, Maximiliano Falcón, Noah Allen
• Midfielders: Rodrigo De Paul, Yannick Bright, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba
• Forwards: Lionel Messi, Tadeo Allende

Key battles to watch will be Messi against DC United’s defenders and the midfield duel between Busquets and DC United’s Hosei Kijima.

Inter Miami CF Suspensions & Injuries

Inter Miami CF will be navigating this match with several key absences due to injuries and suspensions.

Injuries:

• Allen Obando: Hamstring injury, expected to return late September 2025.
• David Ruiz: Hamstring injury, expected return mid-October 2025.
• Baltasar Rodriguez: Hamstring injury, expected return mid-October 2025.
• Fafa Picault: Hip injury, expected return mid-October 2025.
• Telasco Segovia: Ankle injury, expected return mid-October 2025.

Suspensions:

• Luis Suarez: Serving a post-match sanction with three matches left on his ban.

These absences, especially that of Suarez and several midfield players, significantly weaken Inter Miami’s squad depth. However, the presence of Lionel Messi and experienced veterans like Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba should help compensate for these absences. Coach Javier Mascherano will need to tactically navigate these challenges to maintain the team’s form and secure crucial points.

Inter Miami CF Tactics and Formation

Inter Miami CF, under the stewardship of coach Javier Mascherano, typically lines up in an attack-oriented formation to exploit their star-studded attack.

Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 4-4-2
• Key Forward: Lionel Messi, leading the goal-scoring charts with 20 goals
• Midfield Strength: A midfield quartet with Rodrigo De Paul, Yannick Bright, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba
• Defensive Notes: Despite defensive vulnerabilities with no clean sheets in the last five games, Maximiliano Falcón and Tomas Aviles will aim to solidify the backline
• Notable Strategy: Strong offensive presence throughout the match, leveraging Messi’s brilliance and the experience of Busquets and Alba, keen on early and late-game pressure. Expect De Paul to drive their transitions and Allende to complement Messi up front.

This tactical setup allows Inter Miami to maximize their attacking potential while providing a strong core in the midfield to control possession and dictate the pace of the game.

DC United Team Analysis

DC United Recent Performance

Date	Competition	Opponent	Score	Result
13 Sep 2025	Major League Soccer	Orlando City	1-1	Draw
30 Aug 2025	Major League Soccer	New York City FC	2-1	Win
23 Aug 2025	Major League Soccer	Inter Miami CF	1-1	Draw
16 Aug 2025	Major League Soccer	CF Montreal	1-1	Draw
09 Aug 2025	Major League Soccer	New England Rev	0-2	Loss

DC United has shown a mixed bag of results recently, with their last five fixtures yielding a record of LDDWD. Notably, they’ve struggled to consistently score, averaging 1.00 goals per match over this period.

Defensively, they haven’t kept any clean sheets in their last five games, which has been a point of concern. Their recent 2-1 win over New York City FC offers some hope, but they’ll need to tighten up at the back to climb out of their current 28th place.

Under coach René Weiler, DC United will aim to leverage their occasional flashes of brilliance but must find more consistency if they are to challenge a strong Inter Miami side.

DC United Key Players

DC United leans heavily on key players to try and pull off a surprise against Inter Miami CF. At the forefront of their attack is Christian Benteke, who has scored 8 goals this season. Benteke remains the focal point of their forward line and will be their biggest hope for finding the net.

In midfield, Brandon Servania orchestrates play and provides the link between defense and attack. He will be supported by Jackson Hopkins and Hosei Kijima, who add both defensive cover and attacking options.

Their defense will have a tough task shielding goalkeeper Luis Barraza, especially without the suspended Lukas MacNaughton.

Expected lineup for DC United:

• Goalkeeper: Luis Barraza
• Defenders: Aaron Herrera, Kye Rowles, Lucas Bartlett, David Schnegg
• Midfielders: Jackson Hopkins, Hosei Kijima, Brandon Servania
• Forwards: Gabriel Pirani, Christian Benteke, Peglow

Key battles to watch include Benteke going up against Inter Miami’s centre-backs and the midfield tussle between Servania and Inter Miami’s experienced trio of Busquets, De Paul, and Bright.

DC United Suspensions & Injuries

DC United faces a challenging encounter against Inter Miami CF, compounded by several key absences due to injuries and suspensions.

Injuries:

• Kristian Fletcher: Cruciate ligament injury, expected return early March 2026.
• Randall Leal: Leg injury, expected return late September 2025.
• Dominique Badji: Thigh injury, expected return mid-October 2025.

Suspensions:

• Matti Peltola: Banned for one match due to yellow card accumulation.
• Lukas MacNaughton: Serving a one-match suspension following a red card.

The absence of important players like Fletcher and Leal, alongside the suspended Peltola and MacNaughton, significantly depletes DC United’s squad depth, particularly in defense. Coach René Weiler will need to adjust his tactics and rely on available players to fill these crucial gaps, making their uphill battle against Inter Miami even steeper.

DC United Tactics and Formation

DC United, under coach René Weiler, typically deploys a robust defensive setup aimed at stifling opposition attacks and hitting on the counter.

Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 4-3-3
• Key Forward: Christian Benteke, with 8 goals this season as the focal point of the attack.
• Midfield Trio: Jackson Hopkins, Hosei Kijima, and Brandon Servania, providing both defensive stability and forward thrust.
• Defensive Concerns: No clean sheets in their last five games. The absence of suspended defenders Lukas MacNaughton and Matti Peltola will challenge their setup.
• Notable Strategy: DC United often aims to score within the first half to disrupt their opponent’s rhythm, leveraging Benteke’s physical presence and Hopkins’ playmaking abilities.

DC United will look to use a combination of solid defensive work and quick counter-attacks to navigate through the challenges posed by Inter Miami, especially given their depleted squad.

Inter Miami CF vs DC United Head-to-Head Statistics

The upcoming clash between Inter Miami CF and DC United promises excitement, with their past five encounters offering a mixed bag of results for both teams.

Date	Venue	Result
23 Aug 2025	DC United Home	DC United 1 – 1 Inter Miami CF
18 May 2024	Inter Miami CF Home	Inter Miami CF 1 – 0 DC United
16 Mar 2024	DC United Home	DC United 1 – 3 Inter Miami CF
08 Jul 2023	DC United Home	DC United 2 – 2 Inter Miami CF
03 Jun 2023	Inter Miami CF Home	Inter Miami CF 1 – 2 DC United

Analysis

• Recent History: Inter Miami CF has the upper hand with two wins, while DC United has one, and two matches ended in draws.
• Goals: The matches have been relatively evenly contested, with both sides finding the net across games.
• Trends: Inter Miami will look to continue their positive run, while DC United aims to break their winless streak against Miami.

Given the history, Inter Miami CF enters this contest with a psychological edge, complemented by their superior current form.

Odds accurate as of 19.09.2025 00:33, and are subject to change. Please always check the odds before placing your bets with any bookmaker.