Real Salt Lake have had two draws and a loss in their last three games. The Fire have had five straight losses. We’re hoping Chicago can extend that run to six losses as the home side need to pick up points.

A shift at left back

After a rough, meaning mostly absent, start to the season Danilo Acosta seemed to have cemented his role as the starting left back for RSL. That looks to have changed with Aaron Herrera joining the backline. The RSL Academy product has played well in two lackluster RSL performances. Real is the only team above the playoff line in the western conference with a negative goal differential (-8). In the two games where Herrera has started, the team’s DG is 0; an obvious improvement. It’s not fair to chalk this all down to Herrera starting over Acosta, but who starts and how they preform will be an interesting facet to this match.

Transfers, rumors, and those that remain

This has been one of the craziest transfer windows in RSL history, seeing as nothing has really happened. The team did offload one player but it’s hard to even remember who that was. There are still rumors of Plata making a move, but nothing has been said about an incoming center forward that the team seems to need. With Luis Silva out with an injury, we’re like to see either Baird or Kreilach start up top. If RSL can’t close the deal on a number 9 this summer, can those options been enough to sustain the team for the remainder of the season?

Nick Rimando

Real Salt Lake’s starting goalkeeper for over a decade just had a fantastic performance against the San Jose Earthquakes. It was vintage Rimando. But the 2018 season hasn’t been without mistakes from the Wall of the Wasatch. Back up keepers Horwath and Sparrow are both on the injury list and Andrew Putna has been on the 18 the last few games. The position is a bit thin these days. A lot is hanging on Rimando’s heath and the aging star certainly has what it takes to come up big, but can he do that constantly?

Injury report

Out:

Beltran (knee 10/15/17)

Allen (knee 6/16/17)

Horwath (achilles 4/18)

Mulholland (back 5/2)

Lopez-Espin (knee 6/13)

Horst (achilles 6/26)

Sparrow (knee 7/2)

Luis Silva (groin 7/27)

Predicted line up

Rimando

Lennon, Glad, M.Silva, Herrera

Beckerman, Kreilach

Savarino, Rusnak, Plata

Baird