Los Angeles Galaxy and Real Salt Lake meet in a top-of-the-table clash in the Western Conference on Saturday night.
The MLS high-flyers sit in third and first in the standings respectively, the home side having the chance to move ahead of the visitors.
Match preview
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Having lost 4-2 to New Mexico United in the US Open Cup, Real Salt Lake are not exactly in the best frame of mind heading into this contest.
However, Pablo Mastroeni and his side have to ensure that the shock defeat remains in isolation after their terrific form in MLS.
A seven-match unbeaten streak that has featured five victories has led to Real Salt Lake sitting one point clear at the top of the Western Conference table.
For a team that finished in fifth place in 2023, it has been a fine start, but only prevailing by one-goal margins in their most recent two league games suggests that they could be performing to a higher level.
That said, ignoring the cup defeat, Real Salt Lake have not lost any of their last five MLS away fixtures, with that run lasting since their opening-game defeat to Inter Miami.
LA Galaxy are another side who are performing far better than they did in 2023, impressively bouncing back from a 26th-placed finish in MLS last season.
Collecting 19 points from their opening 11 matches has far exceeded expectations, while Greg Vanney's side also possess the best attacking record in the Western Conference.
Nevertheless, two games have passed by without finding the back of the net - a 2-0 defeat coming at Austin FC before a goalless draw at Seattle Sounders last time out.
Vanney's team have only played four home games in MLS this season, putting together a four game unbeaten run with two wins and two draws.
Team News
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LA Galaxy will be able to welcome back Riqui Puig after the midfielder missed the Seattle game due to a one-game ban.
Either Diego Fagundez or Edwin Cerrillo are expected to drop out to accommodate the return of the Spaniard.
Dejan Joveljic has missed the last two matches with a thigh issue but the Serbian forward will hope to return here.
Having made an array of changes for the US Open Cup, Mastroeni will revert back to a similar Real Salt Lake side that started the 1-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City.
Diego Luna is likely to start on the left flank having scored in the cup tie, with Fidel Barajas potentially dropping to the substitutes' bench even though the teenager netted in the same game.
Kevin Bonilla, Pablo Ruiz and Marcelo Silva are all likely to remain on the sidelines through injury.
Los Angeles Galaxy possible starting lineup:
McCarthy; Yamane, Neal, Yoshida, Aude; Puig, Cerrillo, Brugman; Paintsil, Berry, Pec
Real Salt Lake possible starting lineup:
MacMath; Brody, Glad, Vera, Katranis; Eneli, Ojeda; Gomez, Arango, Luna; Julio
We say: Los Angeles Galaxy 1-2 Real Salt Lake
Although LA Galaxy have home advantage, we cannot ignore their indifferent form of late. In sharp contrast, Real Salt Lake have been building a head of steam, and that could help the visitors come through in a closely-fought fixture.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
