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Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami live score: MLS score, updates, stats as Lionel Messi faces possible title game preview

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will get a first look at what a potential MLS title game could look like when the Herons travel to face the Columbus Crew on Wednesday night.

With only a few games remaining in the regular season, both teams are preparing for the upcoming playoffs that begin later this month.

Inter Miami leads the Supporters' Shield standings and can clinch the regular-season crown with a win today, but they are still new to the MLS postseason, having only reached the playoffs twice before and never past the first round have come out.

The Crew, meanwhile, need to win to keep their slim Supporters' Shield hopes alive, but know that as defending league champions they will still be strong contenders for a repeat performance.

The Sporting News follows the Columbus Crew vs. Inter Miami game live and offers current scores, comments and highlights.

Latest live updates | Team news and lineups

Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami live score

1st half Goal scorers
Columbus crew 0 –
InterMiami 0 –

Location: Lower.com Field (Columbus, OH)
Referee: Drew Fischer

Expected lineups:

Columbus Crew (3-4-3, right to left): 28. Patrick Schulte (TW) – 31. Steven Moreira, 4. Rudy Camacho, 18. Malte Amundsen – 23. Mohamed Farsi, 20. Alexandru Matan, 6. Darlington Nagbe, 27. Maximilian Arfsten – 19. Jacen Russell-Rowe, 9. Cucho Hernandez, 10. Diego Rossi.

Inter Miami (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Drake Callender (TW) – 57. Marcelo Weigandt, 32. Noah Allen, 5. Sergio Busquets, 18. Jordi Alba – 24. Julian Gressel, 55. Federico Redondo, 30. Benjamin Cremaschi – 10. Lionel Messi, 9. Luis Suarez, 7. Matias Rojas.

MORE: Find out which games are streaming for free each week with Apple TV's MLS Season Pass

Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami live updates, highlights and commentary

2 hours until start: After missing the World Cup qualifiers in September, Lionel Messi has been recalled to the Argentina national team for this month's games!

Columbus Crew vs. Inter Miami kick-off time

This MLS regular season game begins on Wednesday, October 2nd at 7:45 p.m. local time in Columbus, Ohio at Lower.com Field. Here's how this time is reflected in some of the most important areas around the globe:

Date Kick-off time
USA/Canada Wed, Oct 2nd 7:45 p.m. ET
USA/Canada Wed, Oct 2nd 4:45 p.m. PT
United Kingdom Thu, Oct 3rd 00:45 BST
Australia Thu, Oct 3rd 9:45am AEST
India Thu, Oct 3rd 5:15 AM IST

Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami lineups, team news

Columbus coach Wilfried Nancy enjoyed exceptional availability in his squad for much of the season and only had one backup goalkeeper Evan Bush the only extended absence for much of the year.

Defensive midfielder Sean Zawadzki has missed each of the last two games with a rib injury and could miss again today, but otherwise they are in great shape with the playoffs approaching.

Expected Columbus Crew starting lineup (3-4-3): Schulte (GK) – Moreira, Camacho, Amundsen – Farsi, Matan, Nagbe, Arfsten – Russell-Rowe, C. Hernandez, Rossi.

Columbus Crew substitutes (9): The matchday squads will be published one hour before kick-off

Tata Martino's defensive line is nearing a breaking point with the playoffs looming. Tomas Aviles is suspended for receiving another yellow card in the last game against Charlotte FC Nicolas Freire is out for the year due to a torn cruciate ligament David Martínez continues to recover from a groin injury. Serhiy Kryvtsov, Noah Allenor Ian Fray will probably fill in as a central defender Sergio Busquets.

Fortunately, Lionel Messi is fit for route running but could be rested if Tata Martino decides to rest him for this season-ending road trip as the postseason approaches. Facundo Farias stays out with a torn cruciate ligament and Leo Afonso is not yet back from his groin injury. Matias Rojas has recovered from his ankle injury and should start up front.

Inter Miami's planned starting lineup (4-3-3): Callender (TW) – Weigandt, Allen, Busquets, Alba – Gressel, Redondo, Cremaschi – Messi, Suarez, Rojas.

Inter Miami substitutes (9): The matchday squads will be published one hour before kick-off

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