Sporting Kansas City vs. Inter Miami: CCC Match Preview, Odds & Prediction

Sporting Kansas City is back in the CONCACAF Champions Cup for the first time since 2019! On Tuesday, they're kicking off their first-round matchup against Inter Miami at Children's Mercy Park.

So, how did they get here? Sporting KC earned their spot by finishing runners-up in the 2024 US Open Cup. Meanwhile, Inter Miami is representing the MLS after winning the Supporters' Shield last season.

Previous Matches and Head-to-head

After a dismal 2024 season, Sporting Kansas City is looking to bounce back. With only 31 points, it was their worst regular season ever. Coach Peter Vermes hopes for a turnaround, but he'll be working with a different squad this time.

The team had a significant overhaul during the off-season, with some longtime players leaving and new talent arriving. However, their pre-season wasn't impressive, with no wins in six games and a three-game scoring drought.

On the bright side, Sporting KC did have a notable run in the US Open Cup last season, making it to the final against Los Angeles FC. They also had some success at home, with six of their eight wins coming at Children's Mercy Park.

They're gearing up for the Champions Cup, where they'll face Inter Miami. The Herons, led by Javier Mascherano, had a strong pre-season, going unbeaten in three games.

This will be Inter Miami's second consecutive appearance in the Champions Cup. They're looking to improve on last year's quarter-final loss to Monterrey. Interestingly, Miami has never won an away game in this tournament, but they hope to change that on Tuesday.

Inter Miami came out on top in their previous meetings, winning both games against Sporting KC last year with a 3-2 score. This time, they want to make it three wins in a row against their Western Conference opponents.

Sporting Kansas City x Inter Miami Team News

Sporting Kansas City made some significant changes to their roster during the off-season. They brought in some fresh talent, including Dejan Joveljic, a goal-scoring machine for the Los Angeles Galaxy last season. They also signed Mason Toye from the Portland Timbers and Manu Garcia and Shapi Suleymanov from the Greek Super League.

On the other hand, they said goodbye to some familiar faces. Veteran Johnny Russell's contract expired, and Alan Pulido returned to Mexico to join Chivas. The team also decided not to renew Remi Walter, Tim Melia, and Robert Castellanos' contracts.

Meanwhile, Inter Miami tweaked their lineup for their pre-season match against Orlando City. They brought Gonzalo Lujan, Jordi Alba, Yannick Bright, and Telasco Segovia, and it paid off. Goals from Tadeo Allende and Fafa Picault helped them wrap up their pre-season with an undefeated record. Picault's goal in stoppage time was the icing on the cake.

Our Predictions

Inter Miami to win @ 2.49 on Sky247.ng

Inter Miami's defense is still a cause for concern, but it's often not a significant issue with superstars like Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez leading the charge. These two seasoned strikers have a way of overpowering opponents, and we expect them to do just that against Sporting Kansas City.

SKC is still trying to find their rhythm with all the new additions to their team, and facing a powerhouse like Miami might be a tough test for them. Messi and Suarez are likely to prove too much for SKC to handle.

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