Two sides looking to snap their run of two consecutive defeats square off in MLS as San Diego FC play host to Real Salt Lake at the Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday night.
This will be the second meeting between the two sides this season, after the hosts secured a 3-1 comeback victory at the America First Field on March 9 thanks to goals from Franco Negri, Anders Dreyer and Marcus Ingvartsen.
Match preview
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San Diego FC failed to return to winning ways in the league last weekend as they fell to a 3-0 defeat against Charlotte when the two sides squared off at the Bank of America Stadium.
In a game where Andres Reyes received his marching orders, Liel Abada, Patrick Agyemang and American defender Andrew Privett all hit the target to inspire Charlotte to a comfortable victory.
Having suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat against Colorado Rapids one week earlier, San Diego have now lost back-to-back games for the first time in what is their inaugural MLS campaign, having gone unbeaten in six of the seven games to start the campaign.
Mikey Varas's men have picked up four wins from their opening nine matches this term while losing three and claiming two draws to collect 14 points and sit sixth in the Western Conference standings but could move into second place with all three points this weekend.
With all three defeats coming on their travels, San Diego will be backing themselves to bounce back this weekend as they return to the Snapdragon Stadium, where they have picked up two wins and two draws from their four matches while scoring seven goals and keeping two clean sheets.
Over in Utah, Real Salt Lake continue to struggle for results in the new Major League Soccer campaign as they suffered a 1-0 loss against Toronto FC at the America First Field.
Theo Corbeanu struck in the ninth minute to put Toronto in front and Diego Luna's 61st-minute red card saw Real Salt Lake's comeback chances take a massive blow as the visitors held on to see out their first win of the campaign.
Pablo Mastroeni's men have now lost four of their most recent five matches — with a 2-0 victory over Los Angeles Galaxy on April 5 being the exception — having picked up six points from the first three games to start the season.
This poor run of results has seen Real Salt Lake drop into 11th place in the Western Conference standings but they could move level on points with eighth-placed Seattle Sounders with a win at the Snapdragon Stadium this weekend.
Team News
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San Diego will have to cope without the services of Colombian defender Reyes, who is currently suspended after picking up a first-half red card against Charlotte last time out.
On the injury front, Varas will be unable to name the attacking duo of Emmanuel Boateng and 29-year-old Ingvartsen, who are currently recuperating from muscle and leg injuries respectively.
They are joined on the sidelines by teenage defender Luca Bombino, who has missed each of the last four games since coming off injured against Austin FC on March 23.
Like the home side, Real Salt Lake will take to the pitch without the services of Luna, who is set to serve his suspension after picking up a straight red card against Toronto last time out.
Mathew Bell and 20-year-old defender Kobi Henry are both recuperating from hamstring injuries and are out of contention for the trip to the Snapdragon Stadium.
San Diego possible starting lineup:
Dos Santos; Loeffelsend, McVey, McNair, Negri; Godoy, Tverskov, De la Torre; Dreyer, Valakari, Lozano
Real Salt Lake possible starting lineup:
Cabral; Hidalgo, Glad, Vera, Katranis; Ojeda, Eneli; Marczuk, Wolff, Goncalves; Barea
We say: San Diego 2-0 Real Salt Lake
Having enjoyed a solid start to their debut campaign, San Diego have seen their form water down in recent weeks and will be looking to bounce back on Sunday. Varas's men take on an out-of-sorts Real Salt Lake side and we are backing them to come out on top in front of their home supporters.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
