Preview: Real Salt Lake vs. Los Angeles FC - prediction, team news, lineups

Real Salt Lake take on Los Angeles FC in the MLS Western Conference on Saturday.

The two sides are separated by a single point heading into the clash, although Salt Lake do have a game in hand on their forthcoming opponents.

Match preview

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After missing out on the end of season playoffs last year, Salt Lake will be expected to return there at the end of the current campaign.

The Claret and Cobalt won the MLS Cup in 2009, which was one of nine seasons that they have reached at least the quarter-final stage, highlighting the expectation at the club.

Somewhat surprisingly, then, Freddy Juarez has retained his position as head coach despite the disappointment of last season.

A win on Saturday would take them into the playoff positions, with pressure mounting on the 43-year-old after only winning one of their last seven matches.

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Los Angeles, of course, are a much newer club than their forthcoming opponents, having only completed three seasons in the MLS since being founded in 2014.

However, they have more resources than the majority of MLS sides, with designated players Diego Rossi and Carlos Vela two of the most talented forwards competing in the entire country.

In former United States manager Bob Bradley, they have one of the most experienced head coaches, too, with the 63-year-old joining the club in 2017.

Bradley's expertise has guided Los Angeles to the playoffs in each of their three seasons so far, with anything short of achieving that once again likely to be considered a massive underachievement.

Only a win in Salt Lake City on Saturday would take them back into the playoff places.

Team News

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Salt Lake appear to have a clean bill of health heading into Saturday's encounter.

Winger Justin Meram will need to be careful, though, given that he is only one booking away from incurring a one-match ban.

Los Angeles, meanwhile, look set to travel without Erik Duenas and Kwadwo Opoku due to ankle and knee injuries respectively.

Tristan Blackmon will also sit the match out after being sent off last time out, with Vela likely to come into the side having appeared from the bench in the 2-1 defeat to Sporting Kansas City.

Real Salt Lake possible starting lineup:
Ochoa; Herrera, Holt, Glad, Toia; Ruiz, Besler; Chang, Kreilach, Rusnak; Rubin

Los Angeles FC possible starting lineup:
Romero; Kim, Murillo, Segura, Farfan; Blessing, Atuesta, Cifuentes; Vela, Rossi, Musovski

We say: Real Salt Lake 1-2 Los Angeles FC

Bradley's Los Angeles arguably have the stronger squad on paper, so we can envisage them earning a narrow victory on Saturday.

Neither side have been in great form at all of late, so it is unlikely to be a classic encounter.