Real Salt Lake vs Colorado Rapids

Real Salt Lake and Colorado Rapids are set to trade tackles at the Rio Tinto Stadium in an exciting Major League Soccer showdown.

Real Salt Lake’s underwhelming four-game league stretch (W1, D1, L2) has cast doubt on their Western Conference playoff bid. Sixth-placed Seattle Sounders have closed the gap to only three points, and with a game in hand, they threaten to crash Salt Lake out of the playoff zone. Aware of the importance of this fixture, the ‘Claret and Cobalt’ will go all-out to maintain their 100% unbeaten MLS home record this season (W6, D2). Before a goalless draw with Columbus Crew in their most recent home league outing, Salt Lake had won four straight such match-ups by an aggregate score of 8-1. That probably best illustrates their status as pre-match favourites.

On the other hand, Colorado Rapids have suffered three defeats in four MLS matches (D1) since a narrow 1-0 home triumph over Seattle Sounders in late May. A substantial eighth-point deficit on the Western Conference playoff line reduces room for mistakes as the ‘Rapids’ look to get off the mark on the road. Indeed, they head into proceedings as one of just two sides on the west yet to pick up a single away league win this season (D2, L6). That’s mainly due to Colorado’s underwhelming scoring record that has seen them net the Western Conference-low five away goals to date.