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Real Salt Lake
Major League Soccer
Jul 9, 2023 at 2.30am UK
Rio Tinto Stadium
Orlando City
Salt Lake
vs.
Orlando City

Preview: Real Salt Lake vs. Orlando City - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Major League Soccer clash between Real Salt Lake and Orlando City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Sunday morning's MLS action brings the Western Conference face-to-face with the Eastern Conference when Real Salt Lake hosts Orlando City at America First Field.

Salt Lake are undefeated in all competitions since the start of June, while Orlando are on a four-game unbeaten run in the league.


Match preview

Real Salt Lake midfielder Damir Kreilach (8) celebrates with team-mates after scoring a goal on June 21, 2023© Reuters

Odd as it sounds, Salt Lake may be unhappy at returning to Utah to host Orlando this weekend due to their wretched results in front of their fans.

Pablo Mastroeni's team have the second-fewest points accrued at home (10) in the Western Conference, which is a stark contrast to having the best road record in that section, picking up 20 points from 11 games on their travels.

Those away points account for RSL's standing in the playoff spots, and they could rise as high as second in the Western Conference if they win this weekend and both Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles FC lose their games.

However, an awful record on their turf means the home side cannot look that far ahead but look downwards in the table, with fifth-placed Dallas, San Jose Earthquakes and Houston Dynamo all closing in on Mastroeni's men.

Failure to score in three of the last five at their ground inspires little confidence, even if they have picked up draws in three of four in front of their fans.

Orlando City SC forward Duncan McGuire (13) celebrates his goal with teammates on April 16, 2023© Reuters

Orlando could inflict Salt Lake's fifth home defeat in this year's MLS by making the most of their impressive road form this season.

Oscar Pareja's troops have picked up more away points than anyone in the Eastern Conference, and success this weekend would add to the 15 they have accrued.

Only Charlotte FC (15) have netted more than the Lions' 14 road goals, a statistic that puts Orlando in a positive light because the former have played two more away games than Pareja's side.

The visitors are four points clear of Salt Lake in the combined MLS table and are guaranteed to stay ahead regardless of the result this weekend.

Due to the five-point lead they have on eighth-placed DC United; Orlando are also guaranteed to remain in the top seven regardless of the upcoming game's outcome.

Real Salt Lake Major League Soccer form:


Real Salt Lake form (all competitions):


Orlando City Major League Soccer form:


Team News

Real Salt Lake midfielder Maikel Chang (16) celebrates after scoring a goal on May 10, 2023© Reuters

Zack Farnsworth (hamstring) and Axel Kei (ankle) are ruled out, having not played all season for RSL.

Erik Holt has not played since injuring his shoulder in May, and the defender is sidelined this weekend.

Abdi Salim is still absent with a knee injury and will not feature for Orlando on Sunday morning.

Cesar Araujo had a storming game in the Lions' 4-0 thrashing of Toronto FC, scoring and assisting in the resounding victory, and the central midfielder could have a decisive say in this weekend's outcome.


Real Salt Lake possible starting lineup:
MacMath; Eneli, Glad, Vera, Oviedo; Savarino, Ojeda, Loffelsend, Luna; Musovski, Kreilach

Orlando City possible starting lineup:
Gallese; Smith, Carlos, Jansson, Santos; Araujo, Cartagena; Torres, Pereyra, Angulo; McGuire


SM words green background

We say: Real Salt Lake 1-2 Orlando City

Despite failing to win their last two on the road, Orlando are expected to claim a slender win over Salt Lake, whose egregious home form should result in a fifth defeat in front of their supporters.

How to watch

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For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data

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Who will win Sunday's Major League Soccer clash between Salt Lake and Orlando City?

Real Salt Lake
Draw
Orlando City
Real Salt Lake
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Draw
50.0%
Orlando City
0.0%
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Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1FC CincinnatiCincinnati20135232211144
2Nashville SCNashville21115530161438
3New England RevolutionNew England20107335251037
4Columbus Crew21105642291335
5Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia20104634221234
6Orlando City219753223934
7Atlanta UnitedAtlanta218853935432
8DC United228593028229
9CF MontrealMontreal2082102028-826
10New York City FCNY City2251072327-425
11Charlotte FCCharlotte FC216782836-825
12New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls205871820-223
13Chicago Fire205872631-523
14Toronto2231091831-1319
15Inter MiamiInter Miami2052132031-1117

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1St Louis City20112739241535
2Seattle SoundersSeattle219572518732
3Los Angeles FCLos Angeles209562923632
4Real Salt LakeSalt Lake218672631-530
5Dallas218582323029
6San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes217772528-328
7Houston DynamoHouston208392426-227
8Austin FCAustin207582528-326
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver196763026425
10Sporting Kansas CityKansas2266102630-424
11Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd196672125-424
12Portland TimbersPortland225892331-823
13Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy204792032-1219
14Colorado RapidsColorado2129101429-1515

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