Preview: Houston Dynamo vs. Real Salt Lake - prediction, team news, lineups

Dynamo had cup success in their last outing, whilst Salt Lake played out a goalless draw with Seattle Sounders at America First Field in the league.

Match preview

Houston extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to four matches after a narrow 1-0 win over Tampa Bay Rowdies last Thursday - a result which secured their passage to the fourth round of the US Open Cup.

Brooklyn Raines scored the only goal of the contest just before half time to down the USL Championship side, setting up a home tie with Sporting Kansas City in the next round.

Ben Olsen's men now return to MLS action in which they have fared respectably so far this season, currently sitting sixth in the Western Conference with 13 points from eight matches.

French winger Amine Bassi has netted five of Dynamo's 10 MLS goals to date, and the 25-year-old will be looking to net his first strikes of the month when Saturday evening comes around.

Real Salt Lake are enjoying an unbeaten run themselves - although only three games - with the team looking to have moved past their poor form in the early weeks of the campaign.

Having lost just once in their last five matches in all competitions, Salt Lake have found a foothold in MLS whilst also progressing in the US Open Cup following a 3-1 away win at Las Vegas Lights FC.

Pablo Mastroeni will be looking to improve on consecutive seventh-placed finishes in the Western Conference since taking the reins in 2021, with his side currently 10th, one point outside the playoffs.

Jefferson Savarino is continuing his goalscoring form from last term for Salt Lake, with the Venezuelan having netted 10 goals in 28 matches since making the switch from Atletico MG in May 2022.

Houston Dynamo Major League Soccer form:

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L

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D

W

Real Salt Lake Major League Soccer form:

L

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D

Team News

Houston Dynamo will be without left-back Tate Schmitt for the remainder of the season after the 25-year-old suffered a cruciate ligament injury in the defeat at San Jose Earthquakes.

A shorter-term absentee for the Dynamo comes in the form of Ifunanyachi Achara, with the Nigerian expected back in a few weeks from a knee injury.

Real Salt Lake will be without midfielder Pablo Ruiz for the trip to Houston on Saturday - the Argentinian picked up a red card during the goalless draw against Seattle last time out.

Erik Holt managed just eight minutes of MLS football this term before sustaining an Achilles tendon injury - the defender is expected to be back in action next month.

Houston Dynamo possible starting lineup:

Clark; Steres, Bartlow, Hadebe, Escobar; Carrasquilla, Artur, Herrera; Franco, Baird, Bassi

Real Salt Lake possible starting lineup:

MacMath; Oviedo, Glad, Silva, Vera; Gomez, Caldwell, Ojeda, Savarino; Rubin, Musovski

We say: Houston Dynamo 1-0 Real Salt Lake

Houston have hit their stride over the past month and will be confident of beating a Salt Lake side who have lost three of their four away matches so far.

Real Salt Lake have corrected their early-season wobble, however we do not envisage them getting anything out of a trip to Shell Energy Stadium this weekend.

How to watch

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