Gerardo Martino warned that no team can fully neutralize Lionel Messi over 90 minutes ahead of Atlanta United's clash with Inter Miami. Gerardo “Tata” Martino reflected on what it means to face his former star player Lionel Messi ahead of Atlanta United’s clash with Inter Miami this Saturday, in what marks his first meeting with the Argentine since taking over as Atlanta’s head coach. Martino, who led Miami to the 2023 Leagues Cup and 2024 Supporters’ Shield before stepping away last year, didn’t hold back when discussing the challenge of trying to contain his old captain. “Really, he’s the one who has the decision, not us — we’re the ones who are going to play against him. It’s always been that way. I don’t know, we just saw it, 39 years old at a World Cup, and everything that happened in a match went through him,” Martino said. The reference wasn’t lost on anyone following Messi’s summer: at 39, he delivered arguably his best statistical World Cup, scoring eight goals as Argentina reached the final before falling to Spain. Building toward Saturday. 🧱🔥 #MIAvATL pic.twitter.com/KvNF1YcRFc— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) September 2, 2026 “No team is capable of neutralizing him for 92, 93, 95 minutes of a match. So there’s always a moment where he’s going to be decisive. Sometimes there are many moments in a match, sometimes, like the match against England, it’s just one moment and it’s over, there’s no turning back,” Martino continued. “And this is the same thing. I told the players: if we control the game for 89 minutes, it’s possible we still lose it,” the Argentine coach added. The comments set the stage for Saturday’s matchup, as Atlanta look to spring an upset against a Miami side currently sitting second in the Eastern Conference. Martino and Messi’s shared history across three teams Martino first coached Messi at Barcelona during the 2013-14 season, guiding the club to a 40-11-8 record across 59 matches and lifting the Spanish Super Cup, though Barcelona fell short in both LaLiga and the Copa del Rey that year. He then took the reins of the Argentina national team in 2014, leading Messi and company to a 19-7-3 record over two years, reaching back-to-back Copa America finals in 2015 and 2016, both of which ended in defeat to Chile. Their most successful stretch together came at Inter Miami, where Messi’s arrival in 2023 produced an immediate impact under Martino, scoring 11 goals in his first nine matches for the club. Martino went on to guide Miami to the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2024 Supporters’ Shield before departing the club last year, closing out a partnership with Messi that spanned more than a decade across three different teams.
Real Madrid visit Real Betis in Matchday 4 of the 2026-27 LaLiga season, and here is all the information you need to know to watch this game live in the United States. Here are all of the details of where you can watch Real Betis vs Real Madrid on US television and via legal streaming: WHO: Real Betis vs Real MadridWHAT: La LigaWHEN: 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT • Friday, September 4, 2026WHERE: FuboSTREAM: WATCH NOW Match Overview Real Betis enters this high-stakes clash desperate to make a statement and erase the memory of a shocking 5-2 defeat to Levante. After starting the season with two disciplined 1-0 victories, the loss exposed defensive vulnerabilities that the club hoped were a thing of the past. Facing the league leaders is a monumental challenge, but Betis can draw confidence from their formidable home record against Los Blancos, having avoided defeat in their last four encounters in Seville. Meanwhile, Real Madrid arrives in Seville with a perfect record, sitting atop the La Liga table after three commanding wins to open the Jose Mourinho era. Los Blancos have been a juggernaut, scoring an impressive 10 goals and looking every bit the part of a title favorite. This away fixture represents their sternest test yet, and maintaining their flawless start is crucial to solidifying their championship credentials early in the season. Tactical Analysis & Match Context The 2026/27 season has started with contrasting fortunes for these two clubs. Real Madrid has established immediate dominance, showcasing an offensive firepower that has overwhelmed their opponents and positioned them as the team to beat. In contrast, Real Betis has shown flashes of brilliance with two clean-sheet victories, but their heavy defeat last week raises questions about their consistency and ability to compete with the league’s elite. This match projects to be an aggressive, high-tempo affair defined by transitions. Real Madrid’s devastating attack, led by Kylian Mbappé, will look to exploit any space left by a Betis side that is known for playing on the front foot at home. The key battle will be in the midfield, where Madrid’s control and quick distribution will test Betis’s defensive structure and their ability to counter-press effectively. The motivations are crystal clear for both squads. For Real Madrid, anything less than three points would be a disruption to their title charge and perfect start under Mourinho. For Real Betis, this is a golden opportunity to prove their European ambitions are legitimate, secure a massive statement victory, and instantly rebound from their embarrassing loss to Levante. Head-to-Head Record & Historic Trends Historically, Real Madrid has held a significant advantage in this fixture, claiming 78 victories in 143 all-time meetings, compared to just 32 wins for Real Betis. This long-term dominance underscores the challenge facing the home side, even with their recent positive results in Seville. However, recent history tells a more competitive story. Across the last five matchups, the results are nearly even, with Real Madrid winning two, Real Betis one, and two matches ending in a draw. Crucially, Betis are undefeated in their last four home games against Los Blancos, though three of those ended in draws, including a hard-fought 1-1 stalemate in their last meeting in April 2026. From a statistical perspective, goals have been a consistent feature. Both teams have found the net in three of the last five encounters. Last season, an impressive 68% of Betis’s La Liga matches saw both teams score, the third-highest rate in the division, signaling their tendency for open, attacking games. Squad News & Projected Lineups Both managers will be forced to navigate significant injury lists, but each side is still expected to field a powerful starting eleven for this crucial La Liga showdown. Real Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini is contending with a number of key absences, including Giovani Lo Celso, Aitor Ruibal, and Gonzalo Petit
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