MIAMI — It all comes down to this for Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates: Beat Atlanta United at home Saturday night and advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals, as expected, or exit in the first round in what would be perceived as a massive failure for the most-hyped and highest-paid team in league history.

Miami entered the playoffs as the top seed, holders of the Supporters’ Shield with a record-breaking 74 points, a league-high 79 goals, and plus-30 goal differential. Messi and Luis Suarez, the 37-year-old legends, combined for a total of 41 goals and 25 assists.

The expectation was that Inter Miami would cruise through the opening round best-of-three series against a ninth-place Atlanta team that squeaked into the postseason as a wild card with just 40 points, 46 goals and a minus-three differential.

And yet, the teams are locked at a game apiece heading into Saturday’s 8 p.m. series clincher. Miami won Game 1 at home by a 2-1 score, and Atlanta won Game 2 by the same score in front of 68,000 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday night.

Inter Miami got an emotional boost late Friday afternoon with news that midfielder Sergio Busquets was cleared by the medical staff to play on Saturday, hours after coach Tata Martino said he had been ruled out.

“After this morning’s training session, we received great news: Sergio Busquets has been medically cleared to play,” read a release from the club. “Following receipt of his results, Busquets completed a training session [in the afternoon]. We’re confident in the progression of his recovery and are hopeful he’ll be available for [Saturday’s] match.”

Busquets suffered a contusion in his mid-section during Game 1 of the series, which led to pneumonia symptoms. He did not practice last week, missed Game 2, and did not train Friday morning. Martino apologized Friday afternoon through a team spokesperson for ruling Busquets out in the morning, explaining that he did not get the medical clearance until later in the day.

The return of Busquets would add stability to the defensive midfield, especially in the absence of Yannick Bright, who is out until next week with a hamstring injury. Busquets, Messi, Suarez and Alba played together at Barcelona and have a knack for finding each other on the field with jaw-dropping passing combinations.

Messi should benefit from Busquets’ field vision. He was held scoreless in both playoff games against Atlanta after dazzling fans with back-to-back hat tricks for Argentina and Inter Miami in his two previous outings.

Atlanta has nothing to lose Saturday night. Messi and his team are on the ropes, with the world watching.

“I think the pressure, a lot of it, is on them,” said Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who had eight saves in Game 1. “We know we need to turn up and perform, but I think a lot of the pressure will be on them.”

Martino, a veteran coach who faced high-pressure situations with Barcelona and the national teams of Argentina and Mexico, insisted his team is not nervous, but rather, confident and calm.

“The best-case scenario is we have four games left and all of them will feel like a final,” Martino said. “With the expectations we face, we are ready. Some series are decided in two games, some take three. The playoffs are a different story from the regular season. We celebrated what we had to celebrate [the Supporters’ Shield] and we’ll see what happens.”

Martino takes solace knowing that Messi and others on the roster have played many high-stakes games over their careers and will not be overwhelmed by the occasion.

“Where we are now is a culmination of work that we’ve been doing for a year and a half,” Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said Friday. “During all this time, we have maintained our composure, worked, not said inappropriate things and we face this match the same way. Nothing changes in our preparation, other than recognizing the importance of this match.”

Forward Leo Campana agreed that Miami players are calm heading into the game, even though they have won only once in four games vs. Atlanta this season.

“They have been a very difficult opponent for us, and obviously, this next game will be tough and there is no margin for error,” Campana said. “If you win, you’re in the next stage. If you don’t, you go home. So, we are focused and very confident.

“We turned the page immediately after the loss at Atlanta and I wouldn’t say we feel pressure. We are privileged to be here, playing a sport we love. Other people don’t have food. ... We are facing a little stone along the path, and we have the players to overcome it. We also have faith in our coaches, so we know we’ll do a good job.”

David Ruiz and Sergiy Kryvtsov are out for Inter Miami with hamstring injuries. Atlanta is missing Brooks Lennon (shoulder), Edwin Mosquera (knee), Quentin Westberg (concussion protocol).

How to Watch Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United

Tickets for Game 3 of the playoffs are available through Ticketmaster and other online ticket outlets. The game will be broadcast on Apple TV.

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