Seattle Sounders vs. Real Salt Lakers Prediction, Preview and Odds - 6/23/21
The Sounders are the lone unbeaten team in the MLS and they play host to Real Salt Lake, who are coming off an impressive win.
After playing to three draws in a row Real Salt Lake busted out in their last game with a resounding 3-1 win over Vancouver. The team is in the sixth spot in the Western Conference nine points back of the first place Sounders.
Seattle had played to two draws in a row before winning their last match and they have the most points in the MLS. The club has a goal differential of +12 and while their attack has been solid their defense has been great only allowing four goals through nine matches.
This is the first match of the season between these teams.
Blowing Up in Extra Time
In their last match Real Salt Lake was at home and it looked is if they would have their fourth straight draw but they scored twice in injury time beating Vancouver 3-1. Damir Kreilach scored twice and Erik Holt also find the back of the net in the contest that Real controlled with 59% to 41% time of possession. The team had only totaled three goals in their previous three matches. Salt Lake has only allowed eight goals in seven matches but their offense has not been a dynamic one with 12 goals.
Kreilach leads the club with six goals and he has four of them in the last three matches. Real has a full healthy club for this Western Conference encounter but can they hand Seattle their first loss of their season in their house? Their attack is averaging 1,7 goals per game and to score an upset win they will have to figure out a rock-solid Seattle defense that is giving up an average 0.33 goals per match.
Back in the Win Column
The Sounders had two straight draws before their last match where they were on the road and beat the L.A. Galaxy 2-1. The club conceded a penalty in the 21st minute and then scored two goals mid match and played great defense like they have had done all season. Yeimar Gómez and Raúl Ruidíaz each tickled the twine in the win and Seattle got the win even though they lost the time of possession battle 59% to 41%.
Ruidíaz is tied for the MLS lead with seven goals and he has two of them in his last three league matches. João Paulo is tied for the league lead with four assists and has two in his last three matches. The Sounders do have some injury concerns, as MF Josh Atencio and DF Nouhou Tolo are listed as questionable and DF Xavier Arreaga is out because of international duty,
Pick: Seattle -170
Real has only played two road matches this season and their only road win came facing a Minnesota team that is near the bottom of the table in the Western Conference. They have issues scoring goals and even in the last match where they scored three goals two of them came in extra time. Seattle is the lone unbeaten team in the MLS and they have only conceded four goals in nine matches. I look for them to play great defense in this game but their attack will not be overly impressive. This one will be close but Seattle will get the home win and remain unbeaten on the season.
Total: Under 2.5
I am leaning towards the Under in this game even though these teams combined to score five goals in their last matches. Real has not been a great attacking team this season with 12 goals in seven matches and they will struggle to find their attack in this game facing the great Seattle defense. I would not be surprised in the slightest if the Sounders kept a clean sheet. Seattle will not kill it on offense but their D in the midfield and backline will be great. They will seek out a home win in a low scoring affair, which will go Under 2.5 goals.
