Real Salt Lake vs Portland Timbers Best odds and tips

Real Salt Lake have had a poor start to MLS 2025 and find themselves in 22nd place in the table with 13 points from 12 games. Pablo Mastroeni’s side have been solid in the defensive third, but they have lacked a consistent attacking threat and have not been able to get enough goals to win games. Mastroeni, who took over as head coach in August 2021, is a structure-first coach and Real Salt Lake are a team that is compact and controls the tempo in the midfield. But they are not a team that scores many goals or wins many games and the home crowd will not be happy with the 1-1 away draw with FC Dallas and the 2-1 defeat at Vancouver Whitecaps that make up their last 2 results. Real Salt Lake are the slight favourites for this game at 2.07, but Portland Timbers, who are at 3.80, have been in much better form in MLS 2025. The Timbers are in seventh place in the table with 21 points from 12 games and have won their last 2 games, beating Tacoma Defiance 2-3 away and Sporting Kansas City 1-0 at home.

Portland have scored 12 goals in 6 away games in MLS 2025 and have the ability to score goals on the counter-attack. Phil Neville has made his mark on the team since taking over as head coach in January 2024 and his focus on playing with width and transitioning quickly has made for a good start to the season. The Timbers are in good form, having won 3 of their last 5 MLS games and lost only once, while Real Salt Lake have won only 1 of their last 5, drawing 1 and losing 3. Both teams to score looks an attractive market for this clash, given that Real Salt Lake are averaging 1.00 goals scored and 1.00 goals conceded per home game this season and Portland have scored 12 times in 6 away games. Diego Luna is the talisman for Real Salt Lake and has scored 7 goals in 11 appearances in MLS 2025, 4 of which have come in RSL's last 6 goals. Felipe Mora leads the line for Portland and has scored 5 goals in 12 MLS games this season. Antony has been the playmaker, providing 4 assists in the last 5 games. The last 3 MLS games between these clubs have resulted in a win each and a draw and, given the contrast in playing styles, the head-to-head record and the volatility of both teams, this could be a fascinating chess match with goals at both ends.