Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano warned that Nashville SC will come into Wednesday's Concacaf Champions Cup round of 16 clash with blood in their eyes. The two teams met in the 2025 MLS Cup playoffs, where Inter Miami eliminated Nashville 2-1 in a best-of-three series. Mascherano emphasized the need for his team to be prepared for Nashville's thirst for revenge.

This marks Inter Miami's latest attempt to capture the Champions Cup trophy after falling short in 2024 and 2025. The Herons reached the semifinals in the previous edition before losing 5-1 on aggregate to the Vancouver Whitecaps. Mascherano stressed that while the competition generates excitement, his team cannot become obsessed with winning.

Adding to the intrigue, captain Lionel Messi could score his 900th career goal in this match. The Argentine forward netted his 899th against D.C. United on Saturday. Mascherano praised Messi's unique impact, noting that his contributions to the game itself matter more than statistics. The second leg will be played March 18 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.