Preview: Inter Miami vs. Philadelphia Union - prediction, team news, lineups

Looking to avoid a seventh consecutive league defeat and potentially move off the foot of the MLS table, Inter Miami play host to Philadelphia Union on Monday.

Meanwhile, the away side seek to consolidate their position in a tightly-packed top half of the log as the season approaches its tipping point.

Match preview

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Inter Miami's downward spiral continues after they were trashed 5-0 by Eastern Conference leaders New England Revolution on Thursday.

The game was effectively settled in the first half where solitary strikes from Teal Bunbury and Adam Buksa, coupled with Arnor Traustason's brace, put the game out of sight.

Buksa would later go on to grab his second of the game, putting the final nail in the coffin as Phil Neville's men suffered a joint league-high eighth defeat of the campaign.

The Herons are one of two teams yet to pick up a win on their own turf this term and have conceded the most goals in home matches so far.

Next up for them is a fixture where they have lost three of the last four editions, but Monday's hosts came out on top in the most recent one back in April.

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Philadelphia Union failed to win away from home for the fifth game on the spin as they were beaten 2-1 by Orlando City SC on Friday.

Goals from Benji Michel and Andres Perea put Jim Curtin's men to the sword despite the best efforts of Kacper Przybylko, who halved the deficit midway through the second period.

Nonetheless, the Union have enjoyed a decent start to the new campaign and are third in the Eastern Conference as things stand.

Trailing runaway leaders New England Revolution by seven points, Monday's visitors know that they have work to do if they are to successfully rule the East for the second consecutive season.

Team News

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Ian Fray and Jones Joevin are sidelined with muscle and hamstring injuries respectively and will both sit out the fixture.

Kelvin Leerdam is unavailable for the home side, as he is currently in action for Suriname at the ongoing Gold Cup in the United States.

Philadelphia's Andre Blake, Cory Burke and Alvas Powell are also on duty with Jamaica, ruling them out of their side's trip to Miami.

The American duo of Anthony Fontana and Jack de Vries are major doubts for the game as they continue to recover from a concussion.

Rounding off the list of absentees for the visitors is Ilsinho, who has been limited to just one appearance this term due to a groin problem.

Inter Miami possible starting lineup:
Marsman; Makoun, Figal, Shawcross, Pirez; Ulloa, Matuidi, Pizarro; Robinson, Morgan, Higuain

Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:
Freese; Wagner, Elliot, Glesnes, Mbaizo; Martinez, Monteiro, Bedoya; Gazdag, Santos, Przybylko

We say: Inter Miami 1-1 Philadelphia Union

Given their form coming into the contest, Inter Miami will be the happier of the two sides should it end in a draw, and we are predicting the game to pan out that way. However, it will be no surprise if the visitors end up nicking it by the odd goal.