Germán Berterame emerges in front-three debate as Messi set for LAFC opener
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said Lionel Messi trained with the group all week and is prepared for the club’s MLS season opener at the Coliseo Memorial of Los Angeles, while commentators on Es Así y Punto debated whether germán berterame or Luis Suárez should accompany Messi in attack.
Germán Berterame and the front-three debate
The Spanish-language talk show Es Así y Punto opened a public argument over lineup options, putting germán berterame and Luis Suárez on opposite sides of the question of who should join Messi up front for the match against LAFC. The discussion frames an immediate tactical choice for Inter Miami as it heads into its first game as the defending MLS champion.
Coliseo to host high-demand season opener against the champion
The season opener was moved to the Coliseo Memorial of Los Angeles to accommodate heavy ticket demand for the match between LAFC and defending MLS champion Inter Miami. LAFC forward Denis Bouanga highlighted the stakes, saying the team must focus on its own game when it hosts Miami, and coach Marc Dos Santos urged intensity from the first minute as his side starts the campaign.
Mascherano on Messi’s fitness and the traveling squad
Mascherano said Messi "is well, trained all week with the group" and arrives prepared for the clash with LAFC after suffering a hamstring strain in the left ischiotibial during a recent match against Barcelona SC in Ecuador. The coach added that every player who traveled is fit to play, clearing doubts about availability for the opener.
Messi’s recent season totals—29 goals and 19 assists—were cited as part of the context for the matchup, underscoring why the fixture generated such demand. Mascherano also related a personal anecdote about briefly being an Inter Miami player in the past and called the MLS "very competitive" and beyond his expectations, reflecting the league’s profile as the season begins.
Local buildup and immediate schedule
LAFC will arrive at the Coliseo following its own short-term schedule: the club will play in the Concacaf Champions Cup this Tuesday before making its MLS debut at the Coliseo on Saturday. Bouanga noted the special atmosphere expected at the stadium and said the team wants to give fans a strong start to the season.
The confirmed next events are LAFC’s Concacaf Champions Cup match on Tuesday and Inter Miami’s MLS kickoff at the Coliseo on Saturday, with both coaches signaling their squads are prepared to compete in those fixtures.
