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Eliminated from the playoffs, the hosts are playing for pride at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday night. The visitors are already assured of postseason football, but seek to nail down home advantage ahead of the best-of-three knockout stage.
The Californians are on a seven-game unbeaten streak at home, but the Utah-based team are the best away team in the Western conference. They surprised LAFC, winning 1-0, on their last trip to Los Angeles.
These are the LA Galaxy vs Real Salt Lake predicted lineups.
Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA – Photo by Icon sport
LA Galaxy vs Real Salt Lake predicted lineups and news
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With this game taking place during the international break there are several players on both sides that won’t be available for selection. In total six players are absent due to national team call ups, two from the home side and a quartet from the visitors.
Galaxy’s Edwin Cerrillo and Real Salt Lake’s Pablo Ruiz also need to be on their best behaviour, both athletes are one booking away from suspension.
Team news: LA Galaxy
Eriq Zavaleta had a peculiar performance against Portland in the previous home game, the Salvadorian scored twice, with an own goal sandwiched between his brace. The defender is on international duty here, so will likely be replaced by Tony Alfaro.
Douglas Costa continues to impress when he is fully fit, the former Juventus and Bayern Munich winger has four goal contributions in his last three games. Billy Sharp has played ninety minutes back-to-back for the first time since joining the club, he is due a goal having failed to find the net in his last four.
Greg Vanney will be looking to attack down the flanks against an depleted opponent, Diego Fagundez and Tyler Boyd will be ones to keep an eye on.
LA Galaxy predicted lineup: 4-2-3-1
Bond – Cuevas, Yoshida, Alfaro, Edwards – Cerrillo, Rosell – Boyd, Costa, Fagundez – Sharp
Team news: Real Salt Lake
We highlighted the importance of Cristian Arango ahead of the game against LAFC, and the Colombian didn’t disappoint when he netted the only goal of that game. But the 28 year old misses this game with a hamstring injury.
Kevon Lambert, Braian Ojeda, Jefferson Savarino and Rubio Rubin are all on international duty, while Justen Glad is suspended. It means we are going to see a somewhat makeshift side this weekend.
Head coach Pablo Mastroeni will have to roll the dice on the road, possibly giving a start to Emeka Eneli in right midfield rather than full back. Ecuador striker Anderson Julio will likely get a run out from the off.
Real Salt Lake predicted lineup: 4-4-2
MacMath – Brody, Silva, Vera, Oviedo – Eneli, Palacio, Kreilach, Luna – Julio, Musovski
Will Riqui Puig play today?
The 24-year-old midfielder is LA Galaxy’s joint topscorer with seven strikes to date, but he has missed the last three league matches with a niggling ankle injury. The player himself promised fans he was coming back soon, posting a positive message on 4th October.
@LAGalaxy coming back soon! pic.twitter.com/Vj1EGw8paE
— Riqui Puig (@RiquiPuig) October 4, 2023
The hosts will be desperate to have him, other than his 11 direct goal contributions he is ranked 5th in the MLS for shot-creating actions. The question mark over Puig’s ankle was yet to be resolved at the time of writing, and with only two games left until February it might not be worth taking any risks.
Puig probably doesn’t make the LA Galaxy vs Real Salt Lake predicted lineups, but we think he makes an impact from the substitute’s bench.
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