MIAMI — Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez will travel to the road games against Atlanta United on Wednesday and New York City FC on Saturday, but it has not been determined how much they will play in each game, Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said before training Tuesday morning.

Messi returned from a two-month injury layoff over the weekend, scored two goals, had an assist, and played 105 minutes in a 3-1 home win against the Philadelphia Union. Suarez scored the other goal. Messi has 14 goals and 14 assists in 13 league games this season. Suarez has 17 goals in 21 games and is two shy of Golden Boot leader Christian Benteke of D.C. United.

“Leo came out of the last game fine,” Martino said. “Obviously, tired. It was his first 90 minutes after a long time, but he finished very well. He will travel to both games. But we have three games in one week, two on the road, so we have to go day by day and not stretch him or the other players.”

In the past, Martino has stressed that the management of minutes for players such as Messi and Suarez is especially vital when there are three games in a week.

Messi has played in just two midweek league games this season, the 2-0 season-opening win over Real Salt Lake on Feb. 21 and a 3-1 home loss to Atlanta United on May 29. He played both midweek CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 games in early March, but then sat out the following games those weekends.

He did play back-to-back games on a Thursday and Saturday in mid-April, a Champions Cup loss in Mexico to Monterrey followed by a road win over Kansas City. He sat out a Wednesday game at Orlando and played the following Saturday against D.C. United in May.

Martino was not surprised Messi lasted 105 minutes this past Saturday after not playing for so long.

“With the FIFA break he had 15 days to get back into game shape and when he starts a game, it is very difficult to take him out,” Martino said. “He was feeling good and even when he is tired, his mind is still working, anything can happen.”

Miami will have to use a makeshift back line against Atlanta due to the suspensions of Sergio Busquets and Tomas Aviles for accumulation of yellow cards and the injuries to David Martinez (groin) and Noah Allen (concussion protocol).

Allen bumped his head late in Saturday’s game when he collided with Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender. Martino said Allen “is fine, no problems” and he was working out on his own Tuesday, but he is on concussion protocol, so he will miss the game Wednesday.

Options for the back line include Ian Fray, Sergiy Kryvtsov, Franco Negri and Ryan Sailor, who played and scored for the second team over the weekend.

Asked about Kryvtsov’s drop in playing time, Martino said the Ukrainian center back has had to deal with the challenge of having family back home during the war.

“There are personal issues this year that have been very difficult for him,” Martino said of Kryvtsov. “And I am talking not about things that happen here in the United States, but situations in his home country with family there. We have to take account what he is dealing with.”

Midfielder Matias Rojas, who has been out with an ankle injury, is expected to return to training next week, Martino said.

The last time Inter Miami played at Atlanta, in September 2023, a fatigued Messi stayed home, disappointing many of the 71,635 fans who packed Mercedes-Benz Stadium hoping to see the Argentine star. But the home crowd left elated as Atlanta United ended Inter Miami’s 12-game unbeaten streak with an emphatic 5-2 victory.

Inter Miami has already clinched a playoff spot this year and leads the Supporters Shield race with the league’s best record (62 points) with six regular-season games to go. If Miami stays atop the standings, it will have home-field advantage throughout the MLS playoffs.

The magic number is 10. If Inter Miami gets 10 points over the next six games, it clinches the Supporters Shield regardless of the results of the other top teams. With 10 points, Miami hits 72. The maximum Columbus could reach is 71. The Los Angeles Galaxy and Cincinnati would max at 70.

How to watch

Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United kicks off at 7:30 p.m. The game will be on AppleTV MLS Season Pass.

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