Real Salt Lake vs. LAFC Pick – MLS, September 9, 2020

It is no secret that both Real Salt Lake and LAFC are massively underperforming at the moment. The two sides find themselves seventh and eighth respectively in the Western Conference standings, with both teams winning just one of their four games since the MLS is Back Tournament.

RSL welcomes LAFC to Rio Tinto Stadium on Wednesday, September 9, and in all honesty, it’s difficult to know what to expect. Nevertheless, I attempt to foresee the outcome of the game below. Keep reading to see my Real Salt Lake vs. LAFC prediction and betting pick.

When was the last time that LAFC was priced at 2.10 to win an MLS game? If you’re struggling to remember, then it was clearly a very long time ago!

Bob Bradley’s side comes into almost every domestic game as the overwhelming frontrunner, but their poor run of form has clearly affected the judgment of the online sports betting sites here. Yes, LAFC is still the favorite to win this game. But it is by no means a formality.

Real Salt Lake’s recent results have been crazy, haven’t they? Since returning to regular-season action, each of RSL’s four games has produced over 3.5 goals, although the Utah club has only managed to claim one win during that period.

A 4-1 hammering of Colorado Rapids was followed by huge draws against Portland Timbers (4-4) and Seattle Sounders (2-2). But Freddy Juarez’s men received a thrashing of their own last time out, going down 4-0 to Minnesota United on Sunday.

The game was goalless at half time, but a second-half capitulation saw RSL throw away the points. The Claret and Cobalt conceded four goals in a frantic 37-minute spell, leaving the club with one of the poorest defensive records in the division.

However, Juarez’s men haven’t conceded the most goals in the Western Conference. Believe it or not, that unwanted tag belongs to LAFC. Bradley’s men have let in a whopping 19 goals in nine regular-season outings this term, although they have scored 21 in reply.

The Black and Gold have already suffered two humiliating defeats to the Galaxy since the MLS is Back Tournament, while a 3-1 loss to Seattle also exposed the team’s weaknesses. LAFC appeared to be back on track after crushing San Jose Earthquakes 5-1, but the Galaxy quickly put an end to their mini-revival.

LAFC is arguably enduring the toughest period in the club’s short history, and with star man, Carlos Vela sidelined for the foreseeable future through injury, the team’s struggles look set to continue.

I fully expected LAFC to build on their huge win over San Jose by seeing off the Galaxy on Sunday, but that didn’t happen. Indeed, it seems as though LAFC is experiencing more than just a rare blip at the moment. Real Salt Lake is also going through a sticky patch, so it’s tough to pick a winner here. Taking everything into consideration, I think the draw is the way go to for this matchup.