Lionel Messi says Inter Miami are prepared to fight for the MLS Cup and urged them to use their experience to wrap up the first round against Nashville SC.

Miami have the advantage heading into Game 2 of the best-of-three series against Nashville, having won the first game 3-1 at Chase Stadium, thanks to two goals from Messi on either side of Tadeo Allende's effort.

Last year, the Herons were knocked out in the first round by Atlanta United, winning Game 1 only to lose the subsequent two.

Messi is keen to avoid a similar fate this time around, with his eye already on the Eastern Conference semifinals, and wants Miami to learn from that result to do better against Nashville.

"I think the playoffs are a completely different competition, where the games are different," Messi told Apple TV.

"The teams are much more careful and attentive to every detail, as with any given situation, you can be knocked out. But obviously, we're prepared to fight and try to win it, what we all want.

"Obviously, yes, we can [win the MLS Cup]. It's not going to be easy. We have the experience from last year when we finished first in the regular season and then got knocked out in the first round.

"We were irregular, defensively, where we conceded a lot of goals, and that's something we still are lacking. We must be better in that area if we really want to win the MLS Cup."

Nashville, meanwhile, are looking to bounce back from a poor recent run of results, including back-to-back defeats to Miami, having also been thrashed 5-2 on Decision Day.

They have lost eight of their last 11 MLS matches, stretching back to the regular season, and B.J. Callaghan wants a much better performance now that they are back on home soil.

"I think in playoff games, the intensity ramps up," he said.

"Everybody's fighting for a win, and we have to be able to match the intensity of these games. That's the expectation of this team when we go home to Geodis Park."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nashville SC – Hany Mukhtar

Hany Mukhtar has scored four of Nashville's last five playoff goals, including his goal in Game 1.

Of the nine MLS Cup playoff goals scored in team history, Mukhtar has scored 55.6% of them (five).

Inter Miami – Lionel Messi

Who else, but Messi? His two goals in Game 1 give him 12 goals in eight games across all competitions against Nashville since 2023.

That is the most by any player against a single MLS team in that time across all competitions, with the next most being Denis Bouanga's 10 against the San Jose Earthquakes.

MATCH PREDICTION: INTER MIAMI WIN

Inter Miami earned their sixth consecutive win in all competitions against Nashville SC with their Game 1 victory.

They extended their unbeaten streak in the fixture to 10 games (W7 D3 including a penalty shootout win) – it is the team's longest winning and unbeaten streak across all competitions against any MLS opponent.

Miami's three goals in Game 1 also marked the club's most in an MLS Cup playoff game.

The Herons have now scored at least three goals in 22 different games in all competitions this season, the most ever in a single calendar year by an MLS team.

Nashville, meanwhile, will be relying on their strong defensive record. They conceded 17 goals at home during the regular season, tied for the fifth fewest in MLS.

However, Nashville allowed a season-high five goals on Decision Day against Miami after allowing five total goals in their previous eight home MLS games combined.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Nashville SC – 32.3%

Draw – 25.4%

Inter Miami – 42.3%