- Real Salt Lake's recent MLS form includes three wins, one draw and one defeat in the last five matches.
- RSL's away form in MLS 2026 is 1-2-3 (W-D-L) from six games, winning once, drawing twice and losing three times.
LAFC have an edge in the final third
Real Salt Lake, 6th in the MLS Western Conference standings with 26 points from 14 games, will try to continue their strong recent form and push past Los Angeles FC, who are 9th with 24 points from 15, when the two clubs meet at BMO Stadium, USA, on Thursday.
LAFC, the favourites at 3/4 (RSL 347/100, Draw 163/50) are coming off a run of one win and four defeats in their last five games. While they've split their last two home games (W1, L1) and look less solid at home than they were earlier in the season, there are good reasons to believe they can snap their poor form against Real Salt Lake.
LAFC average 1.88 goals and 1.00 conceded per home MLS 2026 game, so should control the game and create enough chances to eventually put RSL away, but they may be nervous until they score. Denis Bouanga has the most goals in MLS 2026 for LAFC with six in 14 games, so the Black and Gold have an advantage in the front line. Heung-Min Son has been their chief creator with eight assists in 13 matches and knows how to feed the striker with penetrative balls into pockets in behind.
RSL are in form, but not so much away
Real Salt Lake have gone 0-1-1 in their last two away games, so they may not be able to carry their good overall form into this game. Pablo Mastroeni has his team playing a compact 3-5-2/3-5-1-1, with the wingbacks getting forward to help stretch and overpower opponents.
Zavier Gozo has been in good form for RSL, scoring four of their last 10 goals, but the club have only scored eight goals on the road in MLS 2026 so they need another finish. Sergi Solans is their most reliable goal threat and top scorer with six goals in 14 MLS 2026 games, while David Martinez has provided two goals for LAFC in their last five, so he could be a threat on Thursday.
Los Angeles can take control
Marc Dos Santos' LAFC play a front-foot 4-3-3 that shifts fluidly in possession, but it's designed to spring Bouanga and Son into dangerous pockets. LAFC have the home advantage and are favourites for a reason, but RSL's league position and good form mean they can't be written off, so the smartest angle is LAFC to win and both teams to score. The odds on both those markets are very short, so it's a question of 'are they worth a punt'? In our opinion, yes.
