Mascherano Praises De Paul and Veteran Stars Ahead of Inter Miami's Clash with D.C. United

Reigning MLS Cup champions Inter Miami are set to face D.C. United on Saturday, looking to build momentum after a dramatic 4-2 comeback victory against Orlando City. The win showcased the quality of Miami's star-studded squad, with head coach Javier Mascherano highlighting the inherent talent of his players, particularly midfielder Rodrigo De Paul.

De Paul was a standout in the Orlando match, recording the most touches (106), the highest number of passes in the final third (37), and winning possession 10 times. He also succeeded in both tackles and four out of seven duels. Lionel Messi sealed the victory with a brace, helping Miami recover from a two-goal deficit. This triumph came after an opening-season defeat to Los Angeles FC, where the absence of retired veterans Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, along with injuries to Luis Suarez and Sergio Reguilon, was felt.

Mascherano, speaking on De Paul's performance, emphasized his trust in the team's experience. "Clearly, as a coach, one tries to bring order to the team. That's what I'm here for, right? But hey, I'm not going to be teaching these kinds of players how to play football," the Miami boss said. "They already have a track record and experience. It allowed us, in the end, to see contagious football."

The coach also touched on the emotional side of the game: "There are a lot of things, perhaps many times we get caught up in analysing football too much. Football has other things that perhaps at first glance are not noticeable, which are emotions. When you play with your heart in your hand, a good dynamic is achieved. Clearly we have good players; we are lucky to have a team with great players, and when they start to infect each other, what happens happens."

D.C. United's Recent Form

D.C. United, under Rene Weiler, started the season with a stunning 1-0 win over the Philadelphia Union but suffered a narrow 1-0 loss to Austin FC in their last outing. In that match, they managed only 0.26 expected goals (xG) from seven shots, compared to Austin's 1.49 from 18 attempts, highlighting areas for improvement.

Players to Watch

For D.C. United, forward Tai Baribo is one to note. He scored the winner in his home debut against Philadelphia on February 21, becoming the first player since Luis Silva in 2013 to score in each of his first two home league matches for the club.

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi continues his remarkable form, netting two goals against Orlando—his eighth time in the last 11 appearances contributing to at least two goals. Over that span, including playoffs, Messi has 25 direct goal contributions (13 goals, 12 assists) in just 990 minutes, averaging one every 39.6 minutes.

Match Prediction and Stats

Miami hold a strong record against D.C. United, unbeaten in their last five meetings (3 wins, 2 draws) after a poor start in the previous six (1 win, 1 draw, 4 losses). Recent encounters have been tight, with all but one of the last nine decided by a draw or one-goal margin.

The Herons' comeback against Orlando was their 14th since the start of 2024—the most in MLS—and their third win from multiple goals down in that period. D.C. ended an 11-match home winless streak with their opener but haven't won two straight home regular-season games since 2022.

Opta win probabilities: D.C. United 15.7%, Draw 18.4%, Inter Miami 65.9%. Prediction: Inter Miami win.