Real Salt Lake vs Colorado Rapids: Preview and How to Watch

Real Salt Lake travel to face the Colorado Rapids in the first leg of the Rocky Mountain Cup. Here is what we expect to see in the match.

Real Salt Lake head to Denver, Colorado to face the Rapids in the first leg of the Rocky Mountain Cup. RSL has won the cup eight out the last ten, but neither club has been able to repeat as cup winners since RSL won in 2012.

Does the cup still matter to fans? Regardless, the Rocky Mountain clubs sit side by side in the standings at eighth and ninth, and both are looking gain ground on a playoff berth for the second straight year. Here’s what we’ll be watching.

Colorado Rapids

Colorado returns to Dick Sporting Goods Park after a disappointing loss 3-1 loss at Sporting Kansas City. The Rapids are win-less since their season opener. Last week, the club struggled to get anything going in the attack, being dominated by SKC in possession and only getting three shots on goal, including a penalty kick in the final minute of added time.

Their first match without captain Sam Cronin, who was traded to Minnesota, left the team the team with more questions than answers. Roger Espinoza of SKC made a meal out of the Rapids midfield, and the Sporting KC fullbacks found plenty of space to move forward. Colorado looks to get things right against rival RSL.

Look for the Rapids to shake things up in the attack, potentially giving veteran midfielder Dillon Powers his third start of the season. Colorado’s back line could be in for another long day as well. The club will need to find an answer for the new-look RSL side that showed plenty of bite in Mike Petke’s debut. With Axel Sjöberg still out injured, the Rapids defense will all need to step up in order to keep things close.

Aug 26, 2016; Sandy, UT, USA; Real Salt Lake fans celebrate with the Rocky Mountain Cup after Real Salt Lake defeats the Colorado Rapids at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won the game 2-1 and the Rocky Mountain Cup. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports /

Real Salt Lake

Real comes into the weekend following a 3-0 victory over Vancouver in a blizzard. The win was a nice turnaround, and their first game under new coach Mike Petke. RSL will look to build on the result and keep moving forward.

Petke changed the shape of RSL’s attack and defense, which led to their best performance over the last few seasons. The club will try to duplicate their effort and show last week was a sign of progress, not a result of the elements.

Real’s attack looks to be getting closer to full health. Albert Rusnák had his best game in an RSL jersey last week. The attacker finished with a goal and two assists. Look to see if Rusnák can control midfield. If he’s able to, the Claret & Cobalt could run wild again. If Colorado is able to get things back into shape, this one will be the physical grind both teams are used to seeing when they face each other.

Prediction

This one should be fun, and could easily go either way. Both sides are in need of a victory, but both will continue to rely on depth in order to gain a result. Whoever dominates the midfield will have a step up.

Next: MLS Week 6 Power Rankings

How to Watch

When: May 15, 2017. 9 PM EST

Where: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Commerce City, Colorado

Watch: KMYU, Altitude, MLS Live

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