Nashville SC vs. Inter Miami, Lionel Messi live score updates in ...

Nashville SC hosts Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup round of 16 on Thursday at GEODIS Park.

Nashville is banged-up to begin the season, with Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge absent in the opening two MLS matches (both draws). Nashville SC easily dispatched of Moca FC in the opening round of Champions Cup play, but this game will be a few steps up in competition.

Inter Miami has started well in MLS play, winning twice and earning a draw in three matches. Messi has three goals and three assists in those three games, with new addition Luis Suarez adding two goals. Miami, which had a bye, will be making its Champions Cup debut of the season.

This will be the third time Nashville has faced Messi since the Argentine superstar joined Inter Miami last summer. Miami won last season's Leagues Cup final on penalties at GEODIS, but Nashville became the first team in MLS to hold Messi without a goal or an assist in a scoreless draw two weeks later in a regular-season game in Fort Lauderdale.

SCOUTING REPORT: Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup: Score prediction is in

MORE: Hany Mukhtar agrees to new deal with Nashville SC | Report

Follow along with game updates from GEODIS Park on Thursday, with kickoff set for 8 p.m.:

Nashville SC vs. Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup: Live score updates

Jacob Shames can be reached by email at jshames@gannett.com and on Twitter @Jacob_Shames.