Minnesota United FC vs. Real Salt Lake Prediction, Preview and Odds-4/24/21
The Round 2 of the new MLS season is ahead this weekend, and we have an interesting duel between the Western Conference rivals Minnesota United and Real Salt Lake. The game starts at 8 PM EST at Allianz Field in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Minnesota hopes to make a better impression
The home team began their season with a 4-0 defeat away to Seattle Sounders in a match where Minnesota United had 50% possession and 17 shots on goal, with five of them on target. They have even managed to be level at the break but did collapse in the second half.
Minnesota United hasn't lost any of their last nine home matches in MLS and has succeeded in scoring at least two goals in the previous six home outings. Three or more goals per game were seen in six games in a row where Minnesota United participated. Opposition teams scored nine of them in this period while Loons totted up 13. Niko Hansen, Ike Opara, and Bakaye Dibassy are not available for Minnesota Utd gaffer Adrian Heath.
Salt Lake looks to a fresh start to the 2021 campaign
Real Salt Lake had the weekend off in the first round. They suffered through a fairly poor COVID-affected season last year as they finished 11th in the Western Conference with 22 points.
RSL has managed only one win in the last ten away league games and has been defeated in the previous four away matchups. The strike force from Real Salt Lake has failed to get amongst the goals in their past six clashes, scoring only four in those fixtures, while Claret and Cobalt have also seen the collective goal aggregate against them at nine. With a completely healthy group available to select from, Real Salt Lake manager Freddy Juarez doesn’t have any fitness worries at all before this match.
The Side Prediction
Minnesota United has won four of the last nine head-to-head meetings while RLS won one and the number of draws standing at four. The last league matchup featuring these clubs was MLS Matchday 7 in September 2020, which ended 0-0. Minnesota United is likely to be able to create a decent number of chances and shots on target, so I expect them to get their first win this season.
The Pick: Minnesota United to win (-118)
The Total Prediction
A sum of 24 goals was produced between these two teams throughout those nine matches, with 16 of them for Loons and eight belonging to Claret and Cobalt. The average number of goals per game works out to 2.67.
The numbers suggest that we are up for a high-scoring affair, so I am backing the over 2.5 goals in this game.
The Pick: Over 2.5 goals (-156)
