What we’re watching in Minnesota United vs. Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake are back and find themselves playing in Saint Paul, Minnesota. After having a bye the opening weekend of MLS action, they now take on Minnesota United. The Loons find themselves in recovery mode after a bad loss to the Seattle Sounders. There are a lot of unknowns for RSL as they start the season.

Rubio and Anderson

The most exciting change for RSL has been in the attack. Even with Bobby Wood’s arrival still TBD, that addition of Rubio Rubin and Anderson Julio give the attack a totally different feel. The duo proved themselves dynamic in preseason and it will be fascinating to see what they can do against an MLS side during the regular season. They’ve both proven themselves, to varying degrees, in other leagues, now what will they bring to RSL?

Ochoa

Young goal keeper David Ochoa has been proclaimed as the future for RSL. He’s only played in one MLS game; the final game for the team in 2020. Zac MacMath and Andrew Putna are still good and experienced players. Ochoa is already something of a fan favorite, and the possible heir apparent to Nick Rimando. Will Freddy put his trust in David starting day one?

RSL’s bye, Loons loss

Real Salt Lake were unlucky to be the one team in the league to not play last weekend. That gave the Freddy and co. an opportunity to see Minnesota, but it’s been a few weeks since their last preseason game so they may have some rust to work though.

In hindsight, Minnesota probably wish they could have simply not played the Sounders. Seattle shipped four goal past their defense and MNUFC were unable to respond. They’ll be feeling much more confidence facing an RSL that has never defeated them at home (and only once at Rio Tinto for that matter), but that first game did highlight some key weaknesses RSL may be able to exploit.

Injury report

None

Predicted lineup