In the early hours of Thursday (GMT), Real Salt Lake host Columbus Crew at the MAPFRE Stadium, as the home side look to improve their chances of landing a play-off spot in MLS this season.
Both sides head into this clash on the back of unconvincing form. The home team has won just once in their last four MLS outings. Meanwhile, Columbus has really struggled of late, failing to win in six league outings, while suffering five defeats in the process.
The teams are obviously enjoying very different seasons when it comes to likely achievements.
Real Salt Lake are currently just a point off the play-off spots in the Western Conference, while the visitors are six points outside the top seven in the Eastern Conference.
The ball hitting the back of the net is 🗝️ ... Even if you steal the opportunity from your teammate 🤣 pic.twitter.com/SJI5gyTXrp— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) July 1, 2019
The ball hitting the back of the net is 🗝️ ... Even if you steal the opportunity from your teammate 🤣 pic.twitter.com/SJI5gyTXrp
One thing that both teams have in common in recent games is that neither side has been great defensively. The home side has kept just two clean sheets in nine MLS games, while the visitors have conceded twice in seven of their last nine outings.
Columbus’ recent poor away record of six straight away defeats in the American top-flight looks unlikely to improve in this clash, as Real Salt Lake have won four of their last five matches on home soil, while also scoring at least two goals in each victory.
One stat that gives Columbus a glimmer of hope in this game is that they have lost just once in their last six MLS meetings with the home side.
The recent league meetings between the teams have been entertaining fare, as five of the last six games between the pair have produced over 2.5 goals.
This game looks vital for both teams. Forebet predicts that the home side will record a victory in a low-scoring game, adding to the visitor’s poor recent results on the road.