Real Salt Lake and Dallas will both be looking to secure a much-needed three points when they go head-to-head at America First Field on Thursday.

The home side have lost five of their last six games heading into this one, while the visitors are currently on a run of one win in six matches across all competitions.

Match preview

Real Salt Lake attacker Cristian Arango (9) is congratulated on September 17, 2023 © Reuters

Real Salt Lake were on the receiving end of a narrow 2-1 defeat against San Jose Earthquakes when the teams went head-to-head at PayPal Park on Sunday.

Goals from Jeremy Ebobisse and Rodrigues left Pablo Mastroeni's men with a mountain to climb after which Cristian Arango pulled one back on the stroke of half time.

As a result, the Claret and Cobalt have dropped down to sixth place in the Western Conference of the Major League Soccer table, three points clear of the teams outside the playoff zone.

Coming up next is the challenge of an opposing outfit with little to choose between the sides over the previous meetings, which have yielded two wins apiece and two stalemates.

Unbeaten in seven of eight matches on home turf leading up to Thursday's contest, the hosts will be confident of securing another positive result in front of their fans.

FC Dallas head coach Nico Estevez reacts on September 17, 2023 © Reuters

Dallas had to make do with a share of the spoils for the second game running thanks to a 1-1 draw against Seattle Sounders at the Toyota Stadium on Sunday.

Nico Estevez's men took the lead in the 15th minute through Jader Obrian, after which Alexander Roldan restored parity three minutes shy of the hour mark.

Having picked up 35 points from 27 matches this term, the Cows sit 11th in the Western Conference, five points adrift of the last automatic playoff place, albeit with two games in hand.

Winless in seven straight matches on the road, Thursday's visitors will be need to turn their away fortunes around if they are to stand any chance of securing a place in the postseason.

Real Salt Lake Major League Soccer form:

Real Salt Lake form (all competitions):

Dallas Major League Soccer form:

Dallas form (all competitions):

Team News

Cristian Arango has found the back of the net in three consecutive matches for Real Salt Lake, making the forward one to keep an eye on here.

Erik Holt has not featured since May for the home side due to a long-term shoulder problem, which is set to keep him out of contention here.

Dallas' Geovane Jesus sat out the draw against Seattle Sounders due to a knock, and the Brazilian remains a doubt for Thursday's contest as well.

Eighteen-year-old Tarik Scott is still facing an extended spell out of action due to a knee problem, while Bernard Kamungo and Alan Velasco also miss out through injury.

Real Salt Lake possible starting lineup:
MacMath; Oviedo, Ramirez, Glad, Brody; Luna, Palacio, Ojeda, Savarino; Arango, Rubin

Dallas possible starting lineup:
Paes; Farfan, Antonio, Ibeagha, Junqua; Illarramendi, Quignon; Arriola, Pomykal, Obrian; Ferreira

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We say: Real Salt Lake 2-1 Dallas

Goals have been a real feature of this fixture of late and we expect that trend to continue here. We are also backing the home side to just about get the job done at the end of the 90 minutes.

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Top tip

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