Inter Miami hosts Portland Timbers at the Nu Stadium in an MLS regular-season match tonight. The matchup serves as the headliner for the league's "Sunday Night Soccer" showcase.
Inter Miami comes into this match in good form after a 5-3 win over FC Cincinnati. Lionel Messi played a crucial role, scoring twice in a match where Miami had to come back from behind to secure all three points.
The result helped them stay near the top of the Eastern Conference standings, currently sitting in second place.
Lionel Messi runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Robin Jansson during the MLS match between Inter Miami CF and Orlando City SC.Photo by Calvin Hernandez/Getty Images
Portland Timbers, meanwhile, are 12th in the Western Conference and are still looking for more consistency this season. They were held to a 2-2 draw by CF Montréal in their previous outing.
Phil Neville’s squad have found away matches difficult, dropping points in six of their seven regular-season games on the road so far.
They have also conceded in every away fixture this season, something they will need to improve against a strong Miami attack led by Messi and company.
Inter Miami vs Portland Timbers Expected Lineups
Inter Miami:
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Goalkeeper: St. Clair;
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Defenders: Fray, Falcon, Micael, Reguilon
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Midfielders: De Paul, Bright, Segovia
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Forwards: Messi, Suarez, Berterame
Portland Timbers:
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Goalkeeper: Pantemis
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Defenders: Bye, Surman, Miller, Fory
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Midfielders: Caicedo, Da Costa, Bassett
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Forwards: Antony, Kelsy, Velde
Inter Miami vs Portland Timbers Score and Predictions
Given the current form of Inter Miami’s attack, led by Lionel Messi, and Portland Timbers’ defensive struggles, we predict a 3-1 win for Inter Miami.
Inter Miami vs Portland Timbers Head-to-Head Stats
Inter Miami and the Portland Timbers have an evenly split all-time head-to-head MLS record, with both teams securing one win and zero draws in their two prior meetings.
The home team claimed victory in each of those previous matchups: Portland won 1-0 in 2021, and Miami won 2-1 in 2022.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on May 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the Soccer section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
