Verdict: Real Salt Lake win
Best Odds: 11/10
Bookmaker: Luckster
Hoping to find a route into the play-off places in midweek, Real Salt Lake will welcome LA Galaxy to America First Field in the early hours of Thursday.
Real Salt Lake
Starting with the hosts, putting in another gritty display last weekend as they snatched a 1-1 draw away at Western Conference rivals Minnesota, Real Salt Lake are enjoying an eye-catching flurry. With another play-off spot at the top of their agenda in 2023, the Claret and Cobalt will be looking to make an MLS statement here. Unbeaten in each of their last four domestic appearances, Pablo Mastroeni’s men have also suffered just a single loss from any of their previous 10 contests. With that extended flurry stemming all the way back to April 15th, the Reds have also continued to shine on home soil. Extending on their US Open Cup adventure last week as they claimed a 1-0 victory against Colorado, Mastroeni’s side have lost just one showdown at America First Field since the end of March. With that run highlighted by back-to-back 3-1 wins against San Jose and Charlotte, RSL will be seeking a repeat display here.
Team News
Dealing with a long-term muscle injury and yet to make a single MLS appearance this season, 20-year-old Zackery Farnsworth will once again miss out here. However, despite missing out against Minnesota last weekend, RSL remain hopeful that Erik Holt will be able to make a return to Mastroeni’s squad.
Now finding the net in back-to-back MLS appearances, Venezuela international Jefferson Savarino will have a key role to play in midweek. 18-year-old Gavin Beavers could once again start between the sticks.
LA Galaxy
As for the visitors, while LA Galaxy might have extended on their US Open Cup adventure on May 23rd thanks to an eye-catching 2-0 victory away at local rivals Los Angeles FC, it appears that might have just been a minor boost for Greg Vanney’s men. Making an immediate return to losing ways over the weekend as they slumped to a toothless 1-0 defeat at home against Charlotte, the MLS giants have come under a huge amount of scrutiny since opening the 2023 campaign. Losing each of their last three straight top-flight appearances and now tipped as an outside contender in the race to clinch a play-off spot, the former Toronto boss has also seen his struggling squad show some extended issues in the final third. Losing each of their last three MLS appearances by an aggregate score of 6-0, the Galaxy could be set for another stern test here.
Team News
Shown a pair of bookings and given his marching orders in last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at home against Charlotte, LA Galaxy will be without attacking talisman and former Manchester United ace Chicharito on Thursday. Likewise, Vanney’s side will also be without ex-Juventus star Douglas Costa.
Making a full return last weekend, 19-year-old Jalen Neal will partner former Fiorentina defender Martin Caceres at the back. One-time Watford goalkeeper Jonathan Bond should once again start between the sticks at America First Field.
Key Factors to Consider
- When the two sides last met back on October 1st, Real Salt Lake and LA Galaxy played out a 1-1 draw in California.
- RSL have lost just one of their last five domestic battles against Thursday’s guests.
- LA Galaxy have lost each of their last three straight MLS appearances by an aggregate score of 6-0.
- Real Salt Lake have lost just one of their last 10 straight appearances across all competitions – a run that stems back to April 15th.
- The Galaxy have remarkably drawn a blank in six of their last seven matchups away from Dignity Health Sports Park.
Conclusion
While RSL might have been disappointed after only collecting a single point away at Minnesota last weekend, Salt Lake have only continued to shine since over the past couple of month. Suffering just a single defeat from any of their previous 10 domestic appearances across all competitions, the Claret and Cobalt will be smelling the chance to make another statement here. While LA Galaxy might have secured a welcomed US Open Cup boost earlier in the month, the American giants are in the midst of a public MLS crisis. Sat rock-bottom of the Western Conference and losing each of their last three top-flight appearances by an aggregate score of 6-0, a home victory in the early hours of Thursday can be found at appealing odds.
Verdict: Real Salt Lake win
Best Odds: 11/10
Bookmaker: Luckster
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