Real Salt Lake travel to face Sporting Kansas in an MLS Western Conference clash. With both teams looking to break into the play-in positions after a difficult start to the season, this game is finely poised for a thrilling contest.
Sporting Kansas City head into this match buoyed by a 2-1 home win over Charlotte in their previous MLS fixture. Manager Peter Vermes will be keen to use that as a springboard to build some consistency as that was only their third win in the last 10 matches in all competitions.
It is a similar situation at home for Sporting Kansas, who have also picked just three wins from their last 10 matches in front of their fans. Defensive problems continue to plague the hosts who have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last five fixtures.
Real Salt Lake are also coming off a victory as they triumphed 2-0 over DC United in their previous league fixture. That was a vital result for the visitors, as it ended a run of seven straight matches without a win.
Pablo Mastroeni's men have also been poor travellers lately and are winless in their last five away matches. Much of their struggles stem from a leaky backline that has failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 10 away matches in the league.
How the bookies view it: Upper hand for Sporting Kansas
Sporting Kansas have the upper hand among the bookies and are priced at 11/10 by BoyleSports to claim the win. A victory for Real Salt Lake is valued at 9/5 while a draw is set at odds of 5/2.
Head to head: Slight edge for Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake have a 20-17 edge with 13 draws from 50 previous matches against Sporting Kansas. The visitors also claimed a 4-3 away victory in the last MLS fixture back in 2024.
Players to watch: Red-hot Joveljic
Dejan Joveljic scored 11 league goals for Sporting Kansas, including netting six times in his last six outings. He can combine with Daniel Salloi to produce over 1.5 goals for the hosts (Sporting Kansas over 1.5 goals at 5/6 with BoyleSports).
Johnny Russell and Zavier Gozo combined to produce two goals for Real Salt Lake last time out and could be the ones to watch once again. They could offer up a repeat here (Real Salt Lake over 1.5 goals valued at 23/20).
Probable lineups:
Daniel Rosero, Nemanja Radoja and Robert Voloder are out injured for Sporting Kansas. However, Manu Garcia, Salloi and Joveljic are expected to remain in the lineup.
Real Salt Lake will be without Diego Luna who is on international duty with USA, while this fixture comes too soon for Emeka Eneli and Javain Brown who remain injured. However, William Agada, Gozo and Russell are expected to start.
Sporting Kansas: Pulskamp, Ndenbe, Fernandez, Miller, Davis, Thommy, Garcia, Barlett, Salloi, Suleymanov, Joveljic
Real Salt Lake: Cabral, Katranis, Ramirez, Glad, Caliskan, Ruiz, Palacio, Goncalves, Gozo, Russell, Agada
Anything else catch the eye?
Four of the last five matches between Sporting Kansas and Real Salt Lake have produced over 3.5 goals – available at 6/4 with BoyleSports. Those three meetings have also offered up over 1.5 goals in the first half (first half over 1.5 goals at 11/8).
Sporting Kansas have scored first in three of the last four meetings with Real Salt Lake (Sporting Kansas to score first 4/5).
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