Major League Soccer forecast and preview: Real Salt Lake moderate thought to subdue Houston Dynamo

There’s little time for restitution or working hard at the training pitch these days, with both teams having played their last game less than four days ago.

It's quite the trip for Houston Dynamo when visiting Salt as the cities are 2300 kilometers apart.

Real Salt Lake form and stats

The story so far in the Major League Soccer for Real Salt Lake at their home stadium (Rio Tinto Stadium) is 4 wins, 4 draws and 2 defeats. Two home wins in a row for Salt bring valid hopes of a third.

Salt's last game was hosting Austin (placed 13th) and winning 1-0. Albert Rusnák, who plays in attack, was the top performer for the team in that game, scoring a rating of 7.82 (out of 10). Rusnák hit five key passes and had 48 successful passes (of 50 total).

Heartbreak before that as Salt lost 2-3 at Portland Timbers's place.

The hosts are modest favourites in this match, with the bookmakers estimating the chance of a home win at about 50% +- five percent. It's interesting to look at how Salt have performed under similar circumstances, so here are some numbers: When modest favourites like this (we found twelve games) they have won four times, drawn five and lost three.

There will be little rest for Salt after this match as they are travelling to Colorado Rapids for a Major League Soccer game in only three days.

The Salt fans have had their share of opportunities to cheer home goals this season, having seen 15 goals in 10 league matches. From these home matches, Salt have conceded only 9 goals.

Houston Dynamo form and stats

There's been little loot from Houston Dynamo's travels as they have only collected 5 points from 11 away games in the Major League Soccer. Houston Dynamo only have 0 wins to counter their 6 defeats and 5 draws. The sun doesn’t shine and the birds do not sing for Houston Dynamo, who have now gone twelve games without a victory. The Vancouver Whitecaps game was their last win and it’s been a dry spell since.

Houston failed to get anything from their last game, a Major League Soccer home match vs Colorado Rapids (placed 4th) that ended with defeat 1-3. Fafà Picault got a match rating of 7.43 in that game, top player of the team. Picault scored one goal and dribled passed the opponent 3 of 4 times.

It was a defeat before that one as the away game against Minnesota United wasn't a success with a 0-2 loss.

We have checked recent matches where Houston Dynamo have had similar odds to win. Win-draw-lose statistics from those 13 games were one victory, four draws and eight defeats.

The visitors are returning home after this fixture, hosting Dallas in just three days.

Many goals are not expected from the visiting Houston Dynamo as they have only managed to score 10 times from 11 away games in the league. Defensive performances away have varied in quality as Houston have conceded 19 goals on the road. For more goal statistics, check out the Statistics tab above.

Head 2 Head

The last head to head encounter ended Houston Dynamo - Salt 0-0, played this season. Head-to-head numbers (for the previous ten meetings): Real Salt Lake won three games, four matches ended in a draw and Houston Dynamo have three wins. Over 2,5 goals / under 2,5 goals: five / five

Top Goalscorers

D. Kreilach 8 goals

M. Urruti 6 goals

R. Méndez Rubin 5 goals

Real Salt Lake missing players

Houston Dynamo missing players