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Real Salt Lake: 2020 Preview – No Jefferson Savarino, no playoffs?

By Matt Coles

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 15: Albert Rusnak #11 of Real Salt Lake is congratulated by Donny Toia #4 and Everton Luiz after Rusnak scored a goal in the first half against Minnesota United during the game at Allianz Field on September 15, 2019 in St Paul, Minnesota. United defeated Salt Lake 3-1. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 15: Albert Rusnak #11 of Real Salt Lake is congratulated by Donny Toia #4 and Everton Luiz after Rusnak scored a goal in the first half against Minnesota United during the game at Allianz Field on September 15, 2019 in St Paul, Minnesota. United defeated Salt Lake 3-1. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /
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SANDY, UT – AUGUST 24 : Interim head coach Freddy Juarez of Real Salt Lake waits for an official call on a goal during their game against the Colorado Rapids at Rio Tinto Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Sandy, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SANDY, UT – AUGUST 24 : Interim head coach Freddy Juarez of Real Salt Lake waits for an official call on a goal during their game against the Colorado Rapids at Rio Tinto Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Sandy, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) /

2020 Outlook

Real Salt Lake’s preseason slate ahead of the 2020 MLS campaign is one of the shortest in the league, with the side playing just four matches ahead of their season-opener. After a closed friendly against the Las Vegas Lights, RSL travelled to Arizona to feature in the Visit Tucson Sun Cup, with matches against Sporting Kansas City, the Houston Dynamo and Phoenix Rising coming in a seven-day spell.

RSL get their MLS campaign underway on the opening day of the season, February 29. They travel to Florida to face Orlando City, with their home opener coming a week later against the New York Red Bulls.

The first of two clashes with Colorado in the Rocky Mountain Cup comes in mid-April, though the return fixture is not until August 22. After the first game in the rivalry, RSL then face Los Angeles FC and the Seattle Sounders in consecutive weeks in their toughest run of the regular season, before facing Atlanta United and Portland Timbers, both recent MLS Cup champions, in the space of six days in early May.

RSL’s run-in at the end of the campaign features three home fixtures, MLS new-boys Nashville SC and last year’s basement side, FC Cincinnati. They then go on the road to meet the San Jose Earthquakes and Portland, before hosting the record-breaking Los Angeles FC on Decision Day,.

Thanks to their finishing position in the league in 2019, Real Salt Lake will go straight into the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup and they will also feature in the Leagues Cup for a second straight year, hosting a Liga MX side in either June or July.

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After losing their star player from 2019 in the offseason, Real Salt Lake will be looking to fill the void left by the Venezuelan forward, but whether they are able to do so is a different story. The likes of Rusnak and Kreilach will have to step up if they are to reach the playoffs again.

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