Summer is in full swing, marked by European clubs continuing their overseas preseason tours and Major League Soccer (MLS) shifting its focus to the Leagues Cup. Here`s a look at the week`s key football action.
Upcoming Matches
Football Schedule (U.S./Eastern Times)
- Wednesday, July 30
- Leagues Cup: Inter Miami vs. Atlas, 7:30 p.m.
- USL Championship: Hartford Athletic vs. New Mexico United, 8 p.m.
- Friendly: Manchester United vs. Bournemouth, 9:30 p.m.
- Thursday, July 31
- Friendly: Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur, 7:30 a.m.
- Leagues Cup: Cruz Azul vs. Seattle Sounders, 10:30 p.m.
Leagues Cup Kicks Off
The Leagues Cup has commenced this week, with initial matches including Toluca`s penalty shootout victory over reigning champions Columbus Crew. Attention now turns to Inter Miami as superstar Lionel Messi prepares to welcome another familiar face to South Florida.
Argentina international Rodrigo De Paul, playfully known as Messi`s “bodyguard,” officially joined the team recently and is expected to make his debut on Wednesday at home against Atlas. Despite being 31, De Paul is not merely a player seeking an easy transition; he`s poised to significantly contribute to Miami`s ambitions of securing a second tournament win and their first MLS Cup this season. Tactically, Chuck Booth suggests De Paul is an ideal fit for the squad.
Booth highlights that De Paul`s dynamic presence will enable Sergio Busquets to play deeper, offering crucial defensive protection. Miami`s recent defensive record, with only one clean sheet in their last six matches (despite winning four), makes De Paul`s arrival vital for improving their playoff seeding. Booth emphasizes De Paul`s versatility, noting his ability to link play and score from range, evidenced by his consistent goal and assist contributions for Atlético Madrid over the past three seasons.
Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba will return to the Miami lineup after serving a one-game suspension for opting out of the MLS All-Star Game. Their return is a significant boost for Miami, not just for their inherent quality. The Leagues Cup offers a substantial reward: the top three teams qualify for the next Concacaf Champions Cup. This makes the competition especially important for Miami, potentially serving as their primary route to the CCC if they struggle to qualify through MLS league play.
North London Derby in Hong Kong
Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur continue their preseason preparations with a historic first-ever North London Derby held outside the UK, set to take place in Hong Kong on Thursday. While preseason matches lack the full competitive intensity of league games, this fixture offers an intriguing look at two clubs with contrasting outlooks for the upcoming season.
Following three consecutive Premier League runner-up finishes, Arsenal aims to finalize a squad capable of clinching major titles. The Hong Kong match might see Viktor Gyokeres, their new $74.2 million signing from Sporting Lisbon, make his debut. Gyokeres is expected to address Arsenal`s long-standing need for a prolific goalscorer, having netted 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting, while also fitting into Mikel Arteta`s defensively resolute system. Even before Gyokeres plays a game, Arsenal`s squad depth is impressive, prompting rival manager Thomas Frank to acknowledge their strength.
Frank described the match as a “great challenge,” acknowledging that “unfortunately,” Arsenal is currently “one of the best teams in the world.” He added that while it`s a “big test,” it`s “more than a test” against their rivals, emphasizing their determination to win.
Frank`s assessment highlights the contrast: Arsenal is nearing a complete squad, while Spurs are still very much in development. The ex-Brentford manager, in his first preseason with the team, has faced a somewhat turbulent period. Despite mixed preseason results, which aren`t always indicative of future success, their transfer window hasn`t gone entirely to plan. While they secured Mohammed Kudus, they missed out on Morgan Gibbs-White, who renewed his contract with Nottingham Forest. Furthermore, Son Heung-min`s potential move to MLS side LAFC adds to the uncertainty. This leaves Tottenham`s squad feeling incomplete for the derby, raising questions about their true ceiling for the upcoming season.
Top Football Stories
- Lionesses Parade: Approximately 65,000 fans gathered in London to celebrate England`s Women`s Euro victory, showcasing the significant growth and legitimacy women`s football has gained in the country since the Lionesses` previous title win three years prior.
- Transfer Window Latest: Recent transfer grades are in for Joao Felix, who joined Al-Nassr from Chelsea, and Thomas Muller, who is reportedly on the verge of joining MLS` Vancouver Whitecaps as a free agent.
- Diaz to Bayern: Luis Diaz`s move from Liverpool to Bayern Munich is now official. Analysis ponders whether this was the right decision for Arne Slot`s Liverpool side.
- 2027 WWC Lookahead: Early predictions for the 2027 Women`s World Cup place the U.S. women`s national team at the top of power rankings, despite several credible contenders capable of winning the title in Brazil in two years.
Betting Insights
Best Bets
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Leagues Cup: Inter Miami vs. Atlas, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
THE PICK: Lionel Messi to score the game`s first goal (+245) – After a rare week-long break from competition (due to his MLS All-Star Game suspension), Lionel Messi is expected to be fresh and highly impactful. Given his consistent ability to influence games, it`s reasonable to predict Messi will open the scoring for Inter Miami, ensuring a strong start to their Leagues Cup campaign.
