Preview: Inter Miami vs. FC Cincinnati - prediction, team news, lineups

Inter Miami's hopes of reaching this year's playoffs are diminishing each gameweek, but they did keep their dreams alive with a win last time out, which has left Phil Neville's side six points behind seventh-placed DC United.

FC Cincinnati are also nearing their final position in the Eastern Conference, which is looking likely to be rock bottom as they currently sit five points behind Toronto.

Match preview

Inter Miami were on a six-game losing streak before Thursday's outing against Toronto at the Lockhart Stadium, where Neville's side ended their poor run of form with an emphatic 3-0 victory over the Canadian outfit.

Federico Higuain and Christian Makoun gave the home side a 2-0 lead heading into half time, before Eriq Zavaleta scored an own goal to ensure Miami kept their playoff hopes alive.

With four games and 12 points up for grabs, it is likely that Inter Miami are going to have to win at least three of their remaining MLS matches and remain undefeated until the end of the season if they are to make up the six-point gap to DC United.

Neville's side are capable of stringing together a run of victories, as they demonstrated at the beginning of September, but after this game against Cincinnati, their final three games are all against teams above them in the table.

Miami will be looking to not just win on Sunday, but emulate their result from last time out and score a flurry of goals, as that could hand them the confidence heading into the last three games.

Cincinnati's awful string of results continued in midweek when Chicago Fire visited the TQL Stadium, where an exciting seven-goal encounter took place.

Luciano Acosta and Brandon Vazquez got the home team back into the game as the tie entered half time all square at 2-2, but Tyler Blackett's goal in the first minute of stoppage time was not enough for Cincinnati to earn a 3-3 draw.

Luka Stojanovic ensured Chicago went home with all three points just two minutes after Blackett thought that he had ended Cincinnati's seven-game losing run, almost guaranteeing that the Orange and Blues will finish bottom this season.

These two teams only met just over a month ago, when Inter Miami edged a 1-0 victory in Ohio, courtesy of a late strike from Brek Shea, the only shot on target registered by the visitors on that day.

Inter Miami Major League Soccer form:

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FC Cincinnati Major League Soccer form:

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Team News

Joevin Jones, Ryan Shawcross, Ventura Alvarado and Victor Ulloa are all expected to return from their injuries later this month, but Sunday's clash is likely to have come too earlier for the injured quartet.

Ian Fray will also continue to be absent, but his return from a cruciate ligament injury is slightly longer than his previous teammates mentioned, as the defender is unlikely to feature in this regular season.

After breaking their losing streak and securing a 3-0 win last time out, Neville could name the same starting lineup at the weekend, meaning that Gonzalo Higuain will continue to lead the line for the home side.

The visitors are also faced with an injury list including Gustavo Vallecilla, Maikel van der Werff and Yuya Kubo, who will all continue to be absent from the matchday squad.

Goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton has only managed two clean sheets in his 14 MLS appearances this season, and he is unlikely to add to that tally against an Inter Miami front line which has just fired three past Toronto.

Inter Miami possible starting lineup:
Marsman; Shea, Makoun, Pirez, Leerdam; Gregore, Chapman; Morgan, Federico Higuain, Vassilev; Gonzalo Higuain

FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Tyton; Matarrita, Castillo, Blackett, Cameron, Bailey; Acosta, Medunjanin, Cruz; Silva, Vazquez

We say: Inter Miami 2-0 FC Cincinnati

After a very positive result last time out, Neville will be ensuring that his players follow that up with another home victory against the bottom-placed team.

Miami have more to play for than Cincinnati, suggesting that the hosts should be more motivated to win on Sunday, and each game is like a final for Inter Miami now to try and make up the points gap to the playoffs.

Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home/Away:data

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