San Jose Earthquakes vs Real Salt Lake Prediction & Betting Tips - Major League Soccer

Prediction published on 25/07/2020, 06:19  by James | Modified on 25/07/2020 at 07:19 in Football Predictions

The knockout stages of the MLS is Back tournament are upon us with the Round of 16 including ties like San Jose Earthquakes against Real Salt Lake. San Jose have made it to this stage after topping Group B unbeaten. They started off their tournament with a goalless draw against Seattle Sounders before picking up back-to-back victories over Vancouver Whitecaps and Chicago Fire. Real Salt Lake made it to this stage as one of the best-ranked third-placed teams, emerging from Group D. They made a positive start to their participation in the tournament with an opening victory over Colorado Rapids. However, a draw against Minnesota United came next and it was followed up with a defeat to Sporting Kansas City, leaving Real Salt Lake outside the top two. Games between these teams have been close in the past few years. The last six meetings between the pair produced two wins for each as well as two draws. They are generally low-scoring affairs, with the last four featuring fewer than three goals and the last three featuring fewer than two. Last season, Real Salt Lake finished highest out of the two teams, third place being their highest finish in five years. Runners-up of the CONCACAF Champions League in 2011, they will be keen to win this tournament and earn qualification to the 2021 edition of the competition. They scored 45 goals in 34 MLS games last season, the second-lowest tally in the division. All three of their group games featured less than three goals. San Jose scored more goals in the league (where they finished eighth) last season and more goals in the group stage of this competition. Yet four of their six goals came in one game, meaning that two of their matches also featured fewer than 2.5 goals. We suggest backing under 2.5 goals for this match.