Real Salt Lake vs New York Red Bulls Predictions

• Real Salt Lake started the 2020 season with a goalless draw away to Orlando City.
• New York Red Bulls got off to a winning start to their season, beating Cincinnati 3-2 at Red Bull Arena.
• Real Salt Lake managed to create just five chances in their match with Orlando, with one effort on target.
• New York Red Bulls had 15 efforts on goal with six of those being on target.

A home win would get the Real Salt Lake season rolling

Real Salt Lake’s season didn’t get off to the best start with a fairly uninspiring 0-0 draw with Orlando City marking their first match of the season. Salt Lake produced only five shots during the match, one they would’ve expected to perform a little better in and only had one shot on target from those five. They will be looking to improve on that performance this weekend as they host New York Red Bulls and attempt to find three points.

Freddy Juarez set his side up in a 4-2-3-1 formation last weekend that attempt to get the best out of Albert Rusnak in the hole behind the striker. The side struggled to create chances though and the head coach may need to look towards his bench where the newly arrived Giuseppe Rossi and Justin Meram could provide the creative spark needed for the side to be more proficient in the final third.

A winning start for Red Bulls but cracks were present

New York Red Bulls enjoyed their opening result of the 2020 season as they picked up all three points at home to FC Cincinnati last weekend. Despite the victory there were some obvious drawbacks to the Red Bulls performance with the visitors creating plenty of chances and considering themselves unlucky not to take something from the game. If New York RB have playoff ambitions this season, they will need to be better defensively and work as a stronger unit throughout the side.

Chris Armas deployed his side in a flexible 4-4-2 formation that saw Valot and Kaku play as very narrow wide men, often both finding themselves in the number 10 position. This worked well in attack with the two players creating plenty of chances throughout their time on the pitch but defensively their full backs looked isolated and a better team would’ve punished them further. They’ll need to improve their shape to get something from this game.

Both sides will be looking for the three points

Both Real Salt Lake and New York RB will be looking for all three points from this game with both looking less than their best in week one. There were obvious deficiencies for both teams and if that continues then chances could be hard to come by in this match. With that in mind, we’re anticipating a low scoring game between these two sides and we’re backing the game to finish with under 2.5 goals.

This one looks as though it could be settled by the odd goal with neither team looking as though they have enough superiority to run away with the game. Home advantage could count for a lot, as it often does in MLS, and we think this gives Real Salt Lake the slight edge. We’re backing them to come away from this match with a narrow, but important, 1-0 win.