Charlotte FC must embrace the challenge of facing the best team in MLS when they take on Inter Miami on Saturday.

That is the view of full-back Nathan Byrne, who this week penned a new contract with Dean Smith's team.

Charlotte head south this weekend to play Miami, who are in the hunt for the regular-season points record in MLS.

A win for Charlotte could see them clinch a playoff spot. 

"If we want to win things this season, then you have to play against the best teams and the best players," he said.

"It's just another challenge and we are going to go into it with full confidence."

Reflecting on his new deal, Byrne said: "Charlotte is a place I have really enjoyed my football over the last two years, and there is no place I'd rather continue my career. We have a great group of guys that want to accomplish something special, and that begins now with this run-in to the playoffs."

Smith, meanwhile, wants to see a level of consistency from his side, after they snapped a six-game windless run in MLS by thrashing the New England Revolution 4-0 last time out.

"You're after consistency from your players," he added.

"I'd much rather have a seven out of 10 every week than a five one week and a nine the next. You want consistency because you can build on that and improve."

Miami are unbeaten in 13 league games, though they need to take 10 points from their last four matches to break the league's regular-season points record of 73, which was set by New England in 2021.

The Herons drew 1-1 against New York City FC last time out, with coach Gerardo Martino left to fume at the officiating.

"The team didn't lack anything, but the match lacked a good referee," said Martino after that game. "We had a good game, we should've won."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Inter Miami - Lionel Messi

Messi has scored at least one goal in eight of his last nine home matches for Inter Miami in all competitions, scoring 10 total goals in those games, including finding the net in each of his last three at Chase Stadium.

Charlotte FC - Patrick Agyemang

Agyemang came off the bench to record a goal and two assists in Charlotte's win over New England on Saturday.

He is the third player in MLS this season, and first ever for Charlotte, to record three goal contributions in a match as a substitute.

MATCH PREDICTION: INTER MIAMI WIN

For all his quality, Miami have won only one of the last five matches Messi has played dating back to late May (D3 L1). In the 13 matches Messi has missed in all competitions in that time, Miami have posted a record of W10 D0 L3.

However, Miami are unbeaten in three all-time home matches against Charlotte (W2 D1).

In fact, the only road win in the six all-time meetings between the sides was Miami's 2-1 victory at Charlotte on July 3 this year.

Charlotte ended an eight-match winless run in all competitions (D4 L4) with a 4-0 win over New England on Saturday. The four-goal win equalled Charlotte's largest-ever margin of victory along with a 5-1 win over the Richmond Kickers in the US Open Cup and a 4-0 league win over the Philadelphia Union, which both came in 2022.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Inter Miami - 59.9%

Charlotte - 19.1%

Draw - 21%

Nathan Byrne says Dean Smith's initiative of gifting players bottles of wine when they keep a clean sheet has provided him with plenty of motivation, as the Crown target a fifth successive shutout against the Philadelphia Union. 

Charlotte have kept four straight clean sheets in MLS play, playing out a goalless draw with the LA Galaxy last time out after wins over the Portland Timbers (2-0), Nashville SC and the Chicago Fire (both 1-0).

Smith has been rewarding his players for each shutout with a bottle of wine, and Byrne hopes there is plenty more forthcoming.

"It depends if you like wine or not, but for me it's definitely an added incentive. He's behind on his payments," Byrne joked. "We've got enough as it is.

"It helps when there's consistency and the same players learning each other's games every week. We have less individual duels as we can back each other up.

"If you play consistently, you're going to grow in confidence, especially when you're keeping clean sheets and getting good results."

Charlotte are sixth in the Eastern Conference standings, four points clear of eighth-placed Philadelphia. 

The Union ended a six-game winless streak by beating the New England Revolution 3-0 last time out, and coach Jim Curtin hopes that result will be a turning point for his side. 

Curtin said: "It's a justification for how hard these guys have been working, because we're still the same group right? 

"I'm still the same coach, these are still the same players. When they get confident and they get going, we can beat anybody."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Charlotte FC – Kristijan Kahlina

Charlotte have kept four straight clean sheets for the first time in club.

They are the only team to keep clean sheets in four straight matches in MLS this season, and goalkeeper Kahlina will be desperate to keep that run going.

Philadelphia Union – Jack McGlynn 

McGlynn (two goals, three assists) has contributed to at least one goal in five straight matches for the Union, equalling the longest streak in club history. 

He is the fourth player in Union history to contribute to a goal in five straight games, after Daniel Gazdag (twice), C.J. Sapong and Mikael Uhre.

MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW

The home side has never lost a match between Charlotte and the Union, with the Crown registering a win and a draw in the teams' two meetings at Bank of America Stadium.

Charlotte have only lost two of their last 26 home matches in all competitions, winning 14 and drawing 10 in a run dating back to late March 2023.

The Union, meanwhile, are unbeaten in their first seven away matches this season (three wins, four draws), the longest unbeaten streak on the road in their history.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Charlotte FC – 35.5%

Philadelphia Union – 39.3%

Draw – 25.2%