Keys to match, projected lineup and a prediction

When: 3:40 p.m. today

Where: Allianz Field

Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

Radio: KSTP-AM, 1500

Weather: 76 degrees, sunny, 8 mph east wind

Betting line: MNUFC plus-125; draw plus-270; Miami plus-195

Form: MNUFC (5-2-4, 19 points) ended a three-match winless skid with a 3-0 win at Austin FC last weekend. Miami (6-1-3, 21 points) bounced back from being ousted from CONCACChampions Cup to throttle New York Red Bulls 4-1 in MLS action last Saturday.

Recent matchups: Minnesota has played Miami only once since the Herons joined MLS in 2020; Inter won that match 2-1 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in 2022.

Look-ahead: With MNUFC advancing to play St. Louis City in U.S. Open Cup’s Round of 16 on May 21, the Loons will now play four consecutive Wednesdays — on top of MLS games each weekend through June 1. The busy stretch continues with a road trip to Houston on Wednesday.

Context: Messi-mania has arrived. One of the greatest soccer players ever, Lionel Messi is expected to play in what might be the 37-year-old Argentine’s only match in Minnesota. He played 90 minutes and scored against RBNY last weekend. Meanwhile, star striker Luis Suarez, who is tied for MLS lead with six assists, is not expected to play for personal reasons.

Check-in: Ticket prices for Saturday ranged from $230 in the supporters sections in the south end of the stadium to more than $1,100 for premium areas at midfield and between the team’s dugouts, according to SeatGeek on Friday.

Absences: Hassani Dotson (knee), Owen Gene (ankle), Kipp Keller (hamstring) are out. Kelvin Yeboah (ankle) is probable after sitting out Austin win.

Big picture: Dotson has been moved to the season-ending injury list and without a contract beyond this year, the 2019 MLS draft pick might have played his final match for United.

Projected XI: In a 5-3-2 formation, FW Tani Oluwaseyi, FW Robin Lod; MF Joaquin Pereyra, MF Wil Trapp, Carlos Harvey; LWB Joseph Rosales, CB Nicholas Romero, CB Michael Boxall, CB Jefferson Diaz, RWB Bongi Hlongwane; GK Dayne St. Clair.

Scouting report: Miami ranks within the top six in MLS in goals scored (20) and goals conceded (11). But it’s offense Minnesota soccer aficionados will want to see out of Messi and Co., and what Eric Ramsay and associates will want to stop. New Loon wingback Julian Gressel, who was waived by Miami earlier this month, has been helping the Loons understand the Herons’ intricacies.

Quote: “I can’t pretend that there isn’t a level of real intrigue from a coaching perspective,” Ramsay said Friday. “With any coach, they would say to prepare a team to play against Messi and those (who) go with it is a really interesting thing to do. I don’t want that to be lost on the players or the staff. I don’t want to take away all elements of it being a really special occasion.”

Stats: Messi’s goals per 90 minutes has fallen off this year. He was averaging a preposterous 1.21 in league MVP campaign last season, but is at a still-high 0.62 this year. He has tallied four goals in 576 MLS minutes so far in 2025.

Prediction: Minnesota soccer supporters will get their wish. Messi will impress — either scoring or creating a goal — but MNUFC will come out with the victory. Loons win 2-1.

— Andy Greder