Real Salt Lake vs. Los Angeles FC Prediction, Preview and Odds - 7/3/21
Real Salt Lake vs. Los Angeles FC
The MLS betting action goes on Saturday, July 3, with plenty of interesting markets to choose from, as 18 clubs take the field around the country. The Western Conference showdown from Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, kicks off at 10:00 PM ET, so here’s the best Real Salt Lake vs. Los Angeles FC betting pick along with the latest team stats, news, and betting trends.
The Claret-and-Cobalt are undefeated in four straight outings at home
Real Salt Lake is coming off a 1-1 home draw against Houston Dynamo this past Saturday. The Claret-and-Cobalt recorded their third stalemate in the last five games overall and earned their 13th point of the season (W3, D4, L2) to go with a 14:11 goal difference. They are tied with Portland for the seventh spot in the West, one point ahead of Los Angeles FC.
Midfielder Damir Kreilach and striker Rubio Rubin lead the way for the Claret-and-Cobalt, combining for nine goals and six assists through nine games. Playmaker Albert Rusnak has one goal and two dishes on his tally, while winger Anderson Julio added a couple of goals.
Salt Lake head coach Freddy Juarez certainly wants more from his boys, who have won only one of their last seven games while drawing four in the process. At least, they are unbeaten in four straight home games, recording one win and three draws with a 5:3 goal difference.
The Black and Gold dropped three straight on the road
Los Angeles FC has enjoyed a rough campaign so far, tallying four losses in ten outings including a 2-1 defeat at Sporting Kansas City this past Saturday. The Black and Gold blew a 1-0 lead from halftime, allowing a couple of goals to Sporting in the final 30 minutes, while right-back Tristan Blackmon was sent off in the 58th minute.
LAFC is now sitting at the ninth spot of the Western Conference standings with 12 points (W3, D3, L4) and a 12:12 goal difference. Bob Bradley’s boys have won two of their last five games overall, both at home against Dallas 2-0 and Colorado 2-1. They are riding a three-game losing streak away from home, as LAFC has earned just one point in four road tilts so far this season.
Carlos Vela came off the bench against Sporting, and the 32-year-old forward has scored just one goal this term. Still, Vela is the team’s top assist-maker with three dishes in seven appearances, while striker Corey Baird and winger Diego Rossi have bagged three goals each.
Side: Draw
The last four encounters between Real Salt Lake and Los Angeles FC occurred in Sandy, and LAFC has won three of those four games. Last season, these two conference foes split a two-game series, while none of their eight meetings overall ended in a draw.
I cannot separate these two teams, so I’m going against this ridiculous betting trend, backing a draw at hefty +275 odds. Real Salt Lake has recorded three draws in its last four home contests, while the visitors will be keen to avoid their fourth straight defeat on the road. On paper, LAFC is a slightly better team than Salt Lake, but winning on the road is hard in MLS.
The Total Prediction:Both Teams to Score YES
My best Real Salt Lake vs. LAFC betting pick is Both Teams to Score YES simply because both sides have struggled to defend lately. Real Salt Lake failed to keep its net intact in eight of their nine games in 2021, and all those eight tilts saw both teams scoring. On the other side, seven of LAFC’s previous nine contests produced goals on both sides.
The Black and Gold have yielded exactly two goals in each of their last three showings on the road. They should have enough firepower to score in this one, but recording a clean sheet should be a tall task against Salt Lake on the road.
