Major League Soccer will feature an inter-conference clash this week as Atlanta United welcomes Real Salt Lake to in game week 20 of the campaign. Match day schedules for July 14 at 02:30 EAT.
The hosts have now won only two of their last 13 MLS matches; currently sit 11th in the Eastern Conference, three points above basement club Chicago and six points behind Cincinnati in seventh who occupy the final playoff spot. The club needs some improvement in their backline if they are to record better results in the coming weeks, as they have conceded at least twice in seven of their last eight MLS games.
Atlanta United will aim to make amends following 0-3 MLS trashing at the hands of Austin FC in their previous fixture. In that match, Atlanta United managed 62% possession, 19 shots with four of them on target. Austin FC got 10 shots with four of them on target and goals by Felipe Martins (9′), Ethan Finlay (17′) and Sebastián Driussi (57′).
Meanwhile, Real Salt Lake currently sit third in the Western Conference, will have been disappointed to have come away with only a point, and they have now slipped nine points behind league leaders Los Angeles FC. The visitors have also had issues defensively as they have conceded in 10 of their last 12 MLS matches, letting in at least two goals on six of these occasions.
Real Salt Lake held each other to 2-2 stalemate with Colorado Rapids in their previous encounter. In that match, Real Salt Lake had 51% possession, 14 shots with two of them on target and goals scored by Jefferson Savarino (45′) and Justin Meram (51′). Colorado Rapids got 15 shots with four of them on target and goals by Diego Rubio (67′) and Lalas Abubakar (89′).
Atlanta United vs. Real Salt Lake head to head
Thursday’s meeting will be the fourth head to head encounter between these two teams since 2017; Atlanta won two times while Salt Lake has a single win.
- Salt Lake 2-1 Atlanta 25/05/19
- Atlanta 2-0 Salt Lake 23/09/18
- Salt Lake 1-3 Atlanta 23/04/17
Home
- Atlanta 0-3 Austin
- New York City 2-2 Atlanta
- New York 2-1 Atlanta
- Toronto 2-1 Atlanta
- Atlanta 2-0 Miami
Away
- Salt Lake 2-2 Colorado
- Minnesota 3-2 Salt Lake
- Salt Lake 0-0 Columbus
- Salt Lake 2-0 San Jose
- Vancouver 2-1 Salt Lake
Atlanta United team news
Atlanta have a long list of injuries; with Brad Guzan,Dylan Castanheira, Miles Robinson, Osvaldo Alonso, Ronald Hernandez, Brooks Lennon, Andrew Gutman and Emerson Hyndman all sidelined through injuries.
Real Salt Lake team news
As for the visitors, Zack Farnsworth, Damir Kreilach and Bobby Wood remain sidelined due to injuries, while Justen Glad and Bret Halsey are still doubts also through injuries.
Prediction and odds
Atlanta United in not on their best form this season however they have not lost just two of their 16 home matches and they have home advantage in this meeting while Real Salt Lake is the better team on paper but they lost their last two visits to Mercedes Benz and they also lost their last two away fixtures.
- Draw
- Goals over 2.5
- Double Chance 1 or 2
