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San Jose Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake: Can San Jose Spoil Salt Lake’s Top-Four Push?

Can Real Salt Lake bounce back from their recent struggles and secure a vital win on the road? Real Salt Lake head into their matchup against San Jose Earthquakes looking to regain momentum in their push for a top-four finish in the Western Conference.

ByVishal Jadaun|
San Jose Earthquakes v Real Salt Lake
San Jose Earthquakes v Real Salt Lake | Lyndsay Radnedge/ISI Photos/GettyImages

As the San Jose Earthquakes prepare to face Real Salt Lake on October 6, 2024, at Earthquakes Stadium. The Earthquakes, currently 14th in the rankings, have had a poor season, while Real Salt Lake is 4th and looking to secure a playoff spot.

San Jose has had trouble being consistent, especially when it comes to defense, giving up the most goals in the league with 74 goals in 32 games. Their recent form shows one win, three draws, and one loss in their last five matches. Their recent 3-2 victory over FC Dallas proves they are still capable of scoring, especially at home.

Overall, Real Salt Lake is fourth in the table with 53 points from 32 games (14W-11D-7L). The club remains unbeaten across its last four fixtures with 3 draws and 1 win against FC Dallas. They've been strong in attack, scoring 62 goals in 32 games. Cristian Arango, their main scorer, will be key in breaking down San Jose's defense. They have only had two clean sheets in their last ten games, so their defense hasn't been unbeatable either.

Head-to-Head and Home/Away Records

There is much debate over these two teams' head-to-head record. San Jose has won twice in their last five encounters against Real Salt Lake, with one draw. Notably, San Jose won their most recent meeting in August 2024 by a 2-0 score.

San Jose's home record this season is troubling, with only four wins, one tie, and eleven losses in sixteen games. At PayPal Park, they have scored 18 goals and conceded 31. Real Salt Lake's away record is significantly better, with 4 wins, 8 ties, and 4 losses in 16 road games, scoring 26 goals and conceding 28.

Prediction of the Match

Real Salt Lake is the clear favorite going into this game because of their disparate league standings and forms. Real Salt Lake Have greater attacking power (62 goals scored vs. San Jose's 40) and stronger defense (47 goals conceded vs. San Jose's 74) give them a huge advantage.

Considering all of the conditions, Real Salt Lake appears to have the best chance of winning with 2-1 scoreline. The opponents' attacking brilliance should be too much for San Jose's weak defense to handle, but the Earthquakes could find the net at home.

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