Prediction: Seattle Sounders vs Real Salt Lake

Two camps who are only separated in the Western Conference standings by their goal difference, Seattle will welcome Real Salt Lake to Lumen Field in the early hours of Thursday.

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Verdict: Goal to be scored in both halves

Best Odds: 3/5

Bookmaker: BetUS

Seattle Sounders

Starting with the hosts, while Seattle might have mounted a dramatic late comeback away at Colorado over the weekend as they eventually snatched a 3-3 stalemate, the Sounders do find themselves in the heart of an extended rut. Now forced to settle for a single point in each of their previous five consecutive MLS appearances, Brian Schmetzer’s side have come under plenty of scrutiny this season. Including their downbeat Leagues Cup campaign back in August, Seattle have remarkably mustered just a single win from any of their last 16 straight showdowns across all competitions. With that infamous rut stemming all the way back to May 14th, Thursday’s hosts have also gained a reputation for their glaring defensive struggles. In fact, Schmetzer’s men have astonishing clinched just a sole MLS clean sheet since the start of April.

Seattle Sounders Team News

All still dealing with respective long-term injury issues, Seattle will once again be without the Pedro De La Vega, Jesus Ferreira and Nikola Petkovic remain on the sidelines. Likewise, in what is a huge blow for the Sounders, leading marksman Paul Rothrock is set to miss the next two months with a hamstring injury.

Finding the net away at Colorado over the weekend and now registering three goals in his previous four MLS appearances, former LA Galaxy striker Dejan Joveljic will lead the line.

Real Salt Lake

As for the visitors, last seen over the weekend putting in another nightmare display as they slumped to a 3-0 drumming at home against Vancouver, Real Salt Lake are enduring a woeful MLS rut. Facing a major uphill battle in the race to book a play-off ticket, Pablo Mastroeni’s men have now lost all of their previous three consecutive outings by an aggregate score of 7-1. Likewise, along with remarkably registering just one-point from any of their last seven straight MLS appearances, RSL have also failed to win any of their previous nine matchups across all competitions (seven defeats, two draws). It should also be highlighted, Thursday’s guests have failed to notch a sole MLS victory outside of Utah since the start of March.

Real Salt Lake Team News

Dealing with what has become a stacked injury list, Real Salt Lake will once again be without the likes of Juan Jose Arias, Zach Booth, Griffin Dillon, Ariath Piol and long-term defender Justen Glad on Thursday.

Now in his second campaign in Utah, one-time Napoli goalkeeper Rafael Cabral will start between the sticks. Completing a loan switch from Orlando City ahead of the 2026 campaign, 19-year-old Colin Guske should keep his spot in the middle of the park.

Seattle Sounders vs Real Salt Lake Key Factors to Consider

• When Seattle and Real Salt Lake last met for an MLS showdown back on March 1st, RSL secured a 2-1 victory in Utah.
• Seattle have remarkably mustered just a single win from any of their last 16 straight showdowns across all competitions.
• The Sounders have failed to claim a single MLS victory at Lumen Field since a 3-2 win against San Jose on May 14th.
• Real Salt Lake have failed to win any of their previous nine matchups across all competitions (seven defeats, two draws).
• RSL have not recorded a single MLS victory outside of Utah since the start of March.

Conclusion

Two Western Conference strugglers who find themselves at the heart of their own respective nightmares, we look set for what is a must-win showdown in the early hours of Thursday. With both Seattle and Real Salt Lake continuing to show their own glaring issues at the back, this is a showdown between two incredibly leaky defences. Alongside the Sounders remarkably failing to muster a single clean sheet at Lumen Field since the middle of May, Thursday’s guests have shipped at least a pair of goals in seven of their last eight outings across all fronts.

Verdict: Goal to be scored in both halves

Best Odds: 3/5

Bookmaker: BetUS

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