Seattle Sounders will look to continue moving in the right direction when they travel to take on Real Salt Lake on Wednesday evening (9:30pm ET). Can the visitors get their first win at Rio Tinto Stadium since 2012?
Read on for USAbetting’s Real Salt Lake vs Seattle Sounders predictions and preview, where we are confident about our concluding betting picks advice.
Sounders on the up
Their time in Florida may not have gone swimmingly, though since the end of the MLS Is Back Tournament, Seattle have started to build momentum. Brian Schmetzer’s men made light work of beating Portland on the road, scoring three goals in the process, while they continued to move forward when hosting LAFC last time out. Given that The Sounders came up short against the 2019 Western Conference toppers in Florida last month, it was easy to feel that they may not have things all their own way, but the men in green and blue showed their class, especially on the break.
Seattle’s front three of Cristian Roldan, Morris and Ruidiaz, who are superbly anchored by playmaker extraordinaire Nicolas Lodeiro, have looked seriously up for it of late, netting five goals between them in the last two matches. Salt Lake don’t have the sturdiest of rear-guards so it will be interesting to see what happens on Wednesday.
Goals galore for Salt Lake
Salt Lake have found goals unavoidable in recent weeks. They ended their time in Florida with a 5-2 drubbing at the hands of San Jose Earthquakes, while their two matches since have contained no less than 13 goals.
Going forward, Freddy Jaurez’s men cannot be criticised. They slotted four against Colorado, while they followed up by banging in four against Portland too. Scoring four goals at Providence Park is not an easy thing to do so, in fact Salt Lake are only the second team to score four goals away in Portland since 2014. Based on recent efforts, the Claret and Cobalt front-line is not to be underestimated.
Not a favored venue
It’s fair to say that Seattle, who have lifted the MLS Cup in two of the last four seasons, are one of the big boys when it comes to US soccer, though they have done anything but thrive when playing Real Salt Lake away from the comforts of home in recent years. Salt Lake have won each of their last three home games against Seattle, while they are now unbeaten at home against Wednesday’s opponents since 2013.
Visitors fond of goals too
It’s not just Salt Lake who’ve immersed themselves in goals of late. Seattle can hardly avoid high-scoring games. Not only have they scored three in each of their last two fixtures, but three or more match goals have been scored in each of The Sounder’s last five. Since MLS returned in July, Seattle have posted an average of 2.2 goals for. They’ve surrendered an average of 1.4, resulting in an average of 3.6 match goals per 90.
Where is the money going?
The early betting ahead of this fixture suggests that there’s not a great deal between the pair, which given the fact that both have been in fine scoring form of late, seems about right. The hosts can be got at +135, while the visitors are currently priced around the +190 mark. In truth, neither side jump off the page at such prices.
Underlying numbers point towards goals
Not only have the produced plenty of goals of late, but they’ve delivered underlying number which suggest that there’s unlikely to be a shortage of goals on Wednesday evening. Since the resumption of soccer in the US, Seattle have seen an average of 3.01 expected goals in their matches, which tells us that, on average, the chances that they’re creating and conceding warrant three goals. Similarly, and somewhat coincidentally, Real Salt Lake also have an average of 3.01 expected goals (for and against combined) per 90.
Our preview’s Real Salt Lake vs Seattle Sounders picks & betting predictions: Get the money on goals
For those looking to make this fixture pay, ‘over 2.5 goals’ looks a tasty prospect and a bit over-priced at the moment with the most highly regarded of the USA sports betting sites. Both teams have been anything but shy in front of goal of late, so much so that they’re averaging a combined 3.83 goals per 90 since MLS returned in July. Add this to the fact that both teams have seen an average of 3.01 expected goals per 90 and betting on three goals to arrive on Wednesday evening starts to make plenty of appeal at odds of -121.
In addition to lots of goals and chance creation from the pair of late, they have both performed well in terms of shots for, which further fuels the selection. This season, Seattle are averaging 12 shots for per 90, while Real Salt Lake are averaging 12.75. At the other end of proceedings, the pair have surrendered 23.12 between per 90, which again, lends itself nicely to the selection.
So it is little wonder that our Real Salt Lake vs Seattle Sounders predictions for this match end with just the one betting pick:
- Bet over 2.5 goals @ best odds of -120 with BetOnline.
Bradley Gibbs writes on MLS and other global soccer leagues for USA Betting. He also pens betting guides and strategy. Bradley has written for numerous sites and publications including Just Bookies and the Racing & Football Outlook.