Sergio Busquets did not play the duel between Inter Miami and Atlanta United due to the defeat

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., EE.UU. (AP) —

Sergio Busquets was called up to Inter Miami's half-time game ahead of Atlanta United, meaning Lionel Messi went to the MLS playoff elimination game without his most trusted comrades.

Busquets received a look in the media section in the first duel of the series with the highest scores, bringing with him symptoms similar to those of neumonia. There was no controversy in the second weekend last week – they beat Atlanta 2-1 – and now Inter Miami had to go for extra time on their own just once and compete on matchday 2 of the Copa MLS playoffs.

Inter Miami has played four more games in that time: the last of the first round on Saturday, before advancing to the conference semifinals, the conference final and the Copa MLS final. When Inter Miami starts, four players will be playing at home. Once a participant was present, time ended for the team that won the Supporters' Shield, registering the highest time record in MLS history.

Atlanta has completed its final four elimination games this season: the final regular-season game and extension of its playoff campaign against the New York Red Bulls and Orlando City, the Montreal clash and this season's second season tie against Inter Miami.

The difference is that it is also an elimination party for Messi. And when we went beyond Messi's numbers this week, he wasn't the greatest of this series – unaided and as a helper in two parties – the Atlanta interino Rob Valentino was not part of this story.

“Messi es fantastico,” said Valentino. “No slur on me. It's a fantastic player. “Ye sea que la gente diga que ha produced, no ha produced, no quiero escucharlo porque es maravilloso”.

Atlanta is the only MLS outfit to have recently traveled to Inter Miami and they announced the Victorias with Messi in the distance.

The rest of MLS left Inter Miami when Messi was in the arena. But Atlanta's plan against Messi didn't work; I marked a Gol 19 years ago when the guests were at the door and the four guests were in between clubs.

“If you're in a game, you're on a team, just your presence on the field requires your attention,” Atlanta United reliever Brad Guzan said. “It had been a while since Plan A worked. “It’s Plan B and Plan C and Plan D and I have to adapt it very quickly.”

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This story was reported by an AP editor with the knowledge of an artificial intelligence regime.