Real Salt Lake vs Atlanta United Predictions

Real Salt Lake and Atlanta United are both in good form heading into Saturday’s match, and both sit in the top half of their respective Conference. Both sides had slow starts to the season, but look much improved over the last month or so and have been winning plenty of matches. Atlanta United have four more points on the board than their hosts, with both teams playing twelve games so far, so we’re expecting a close and competitive ninety minutes between the pair this weekend.

Real Salt Lake were already three goals up by the time their guests Toronto had Pozuelo sent-off for a second bookable offence shortly after the hour mark. Kreilach opened the scoring for the hosts in the fourteenth minute and a goal from Saucedo made it 2-0 to Real Salt Lake at the break. Savarino’s effort on the hour mark made it 3-0 and proved to be the final nail in Toronto’s coffin, but injury was added to insult for the visitors when they were reduced to ten-men. Despite controlling the majority of the overall possession and having an extra man for most of the game, Atlanta United were beaten 1-0 away at New York RB. The visitors rarely threatened the hosts goal during the ninety minutes, managing just three shots on target, and were undone by a looping cross which Barlow guided into the far corner for his first MLS goal.

The limited head to head to head record and performances of both teams over the last few weeks, suggests that both teams will score on Saturday. Both teams scored when these two teams last met at the Rio Tinto Stadium, and both teams have scored in four of Real Salt Lake’s last six matches. Atlanta United and Real Salt Lake have only failed to score in one of their last eight matches in the MLS. Real Salt Lake have won four and Atlanta United have won five of their last six matches, but the hosts have only lost one of their last three home games and their guests have only lost one of their last three away games. With all of the above information in mind, we’re backing Saturday’s game to end in a 1-1 draw.

Rusnák top scores for Real Salt Lake with five MLS goals this season, while Josef Martinez leads the way for Atlanta United and also has five goals to his name. We’re confident that both teams will score on Saturday, and have predicted a final scoreline of 1-1. Both teams head into the game in good form and with excellent scoring records over the last few weeks, and we see the pair cancelling each other out this weekend and sharing the points.