Real Salt Lake Looks To Regroup Against Portland

SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake returns home this Saturday as the team continues its preparation to host the Portland Timbers. After last week’s heartbreaking loss to the LA Galaxy, the team is eager to get back out on the pitch and prove to their Western Conference foes that they are a threat in the West.

Portland is yet to play a home game due to their ongoing renovation of Providence Park. The team will not play its season home opener until the 1st of June. Through the first 8 games of the year, the Timbers are 2-1-5 with a goal difference of -8 and currently sit in 10th spot.

However, the Timbers have won their last two MLS games. A 3-1 drumming of the deteriorating Columbus Crew two weeks ago followed by a 2-1 victory over Toronto FC last Saturday has the men in green gaining serious momentum heading to Rio Tinto Stadium.

For the love of soccer! pic.twitter.com/ZtfR2Nfzsg

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) May 2, 2019

The History

Oct 21, 2018: POR 3 – 0 RSL @ Providence Park
Oct 6, 2018: RSL 1 – 4 POR @ Rio Tinto Stadium
Sep 16, 2017: RSL 2 – 1 POR @ Rio Tinto Stadium
Jul 19, 2017: POR 1 – 4 RSL @ Providence Park
Sep 10, 2016: POR 1 – 0 RSL @ Providence Park

 Team Selection

Marcelo Silva is back training with the team and is available for selection.

Tony Beltran, Nick Rimando and Everton Luiz all remain unlikely to return from knee injuries this week.

The back four has stayed the same over the past 3 weeks after Donny Toia replaced Brooks Lennon in the starting XI.

"We had to put pressure on them." pic.twitter.com/1BnyJiZgyb

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) May 1, 2019

After the knee injury to Everton Luiz, Damir Kreilach has dropped back into center midfielder alongside skipper Kyle Beckerman and has performed admirably.

Sam Johnson is the future at striker for Real Salt Lake, but after scoring two goals in his first three starts the Liberian international was unable to add to his tally against the LA Galaxy last weekend.

Who Is Portland?

Portland plays a 4-4-2 formation and has arguably one of the more talented midfielder and striker groups in Major League Soccer.

Seabstian Blanco plays on the left hand side and currently has four assists and one goal to his name. The two center midfielders, Diego Chara and Christhian Paredes, have a combined 1 goal and two assists.

The striking power is up top, though. Jeremy Ebobisse leads all goal scorers with 4 and Diego Valeri leads the team with 6 assists.

.@DiegoDv8 is a @TimbersFC legend. Happy birthday to a real one! 🎊pic.twitter.com/C6zxnArqPx

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 1, 2019