FC Dallas head coach Eric Quill said his players must study the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez if they are to beat Inter Miami this weekend. 

Dallas come into the clash on the back of a goalless draw with Minnesota United last time out, and are without a victory in their last three MLS games. 

Currently, sitting ninth in the Western Conference, Quill acknowledged the difficulty Dallas faces against the only unbeaten team remaining in the competition this season. 

"We have to identify all of their weaponry and any trends that they try and play with," Quill said. "We have seen it, but they execute it at a high level consistently. 

"We have to have heightened awareness for 95 minutes. We can't stay ball fixated.

"And in one v one moments against guys like Messi and Suarez, these guys have to study them and their fine movements and have a game plan to stop them. 

"We have to do a good job collectively of closing passing lanes centrally. It's a tough task and a tough ask, but it is one that my players are certainly up for."

Inter Miami, meanwhile, will be looking to respond to their 2-0 defeat to the Vancouver Whitecaps in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-final in midweek. 

The Champions Cup represents one of the three non-MLS trophies the Herons are chasing this term, as captain Messi seeks to add more silverware to his haul with the team. 

Mascherano did not hesitate to harbour blame for the defeat, but said this weekend's clash at the Chase Stadium is the perfect preparation for the second leg. 

"We must learn as a team from tonight and find a way to come back on," Mascherano told reporters after the match. 

"We'll try to analyse what happened, try to change, and we'll try to come back. It's difficult, but it's not impossible.

"One more game to play, so we'll try to come back and win the game in Miami. We know that we have our people, our fans behind us, so we can do it.

"We lost today, and I'm the one primarily responsible. I continue to believe in this team."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Inter Miami – Lionel Messi

Messi has found a new home at the Chase Stadium, recording a goal contribution in eight consecutive home league matches (10 goals, three assists).

This is the Argentine's longest run of home league games with a goal contribution since a nine-match streak with Barcelona in 2020.

FC Dallas – Osaze Urhoghide

Urhoghide won seven aerial duels in Dallas' draw with Minnesota on Saturday, his fourth game this season with six or more aerial duels won.

The only other player with more than two games with six or more aerial duel wins this season is D.C. United's Christian Benteke (five).

MATCH PREDICTION: INTER MIAMI WIN

With their win over Columbus, Inter Miami equalled the longest regular-season unbeaten streak in MLS history at 19 games, tying the Crew's run in 2004-05 and Dallas' streak in 2010. The Herons have won 13 of their 19 games in this stretch. 

Dallas, however, have never lost to Inter Miami (W2 D2), including recording a win in its lone previous visit to Miami, a 1-0 victory in April 2023. The Herons did eliminate Dallas on penalties in the round of 16 of the 2023 Leagues Cup in the last meeting between the sides.

Quill's team are also unbeaten in five straight away matches to start the season, the longest road unbeaten run to begin a season in club history.

Only the Philadelphia Union in 2024 (eight) and the New York Red Bulls in 2022 (six) have gone unbeaten in their first six away matches of a campaign this decade. 

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Inter Miami – 67%

Draw – 18.1%

FC Dallas – 14.9%