- Los Angeles FC are the slight favourites to win this Thursday’s game at 2.26, but Real Salt Lake look good value at 2.38 with a draw at 3.25.
- Real Salt Lake have won two, drawn one and lost two of their last five meetings.
Chess match set in midfield and transition
Los Angeles FC are the in-form team and a clear preference of ours to take all three points in the desert this week, but Pablo Mastroeni’s Real Salt Lake side could keep it a close game and the draw is also a possibility. The Black and Red have failed to win any of their last five matches, drawing two and losing three, while LAFC are in mixed form with one win, three draws and one defeat from their past five.
The visitors are 13th in MLS 2025 on 44 points from 27 games while RSL are 20th on 34 from 28 matches, but the stats do not tell the whole story of this matchup. These two clubs have similar playing styles and will set up to try and outplay each other in a chess game of central control and fast transitions, although LAFC have the extra dimension of the wide areas where they can really hurt teams on the counter-attack.
Since Steven Cherundolo took over in January 2022, Los Angeles FC have been able to morph from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 4-3-1-2 or 4-5-1-1 formation depending on the flow of the game and how much space is in behind their opponents. This Real Salt Lake vs Los Angeles FC prediction highlights Cherundolo’s tactical flexibility as one reason why LAFC are still in contention for a top-six finish, while the other reason is Denis Bouanga’s clinical finishing.
Bouanga can be a game-changer on Thursday
Bouanga has 18 in 26 appearances this season and he has bagged five of LAFC’s last ten strikes. He is the main reason why the Californians are favored to beat Real Salt Lake on the road, although Mastroeni’s men can also be very good when they get their passing game right.
The former Colorado Rapids boss has tweaked RSL’s setup to involve more central overloads and they are generally happy to play through the thirds with measured possession play. It has failed to yield many results of late, however, with the last two games ending goalless - including a dismal home 0-0 stalemate with Sporting Kansas City.
RSL have won seven, drawn one and lost six of their 14 home games in MLS 2025, averaging 1.29 goals per game at the America First Field. They are unlikely to get more than two efforts on goal in this one, however, with the latest Real Salt Lake vs Los Angeles FC preview indicating LAFC having conceded an average of only 1.77 goals on the road. LAFC are unbeaten in their last four away from home, winning one and drawing three, so back them to nick a win or a 1-1 draw. For punters looking for an angle, our Real Salt Lake vs Los Angeles FC betting tips could point worth considering.
Unders play at America First Field
Both RSL and LAFC average 1.5 goals a match as the home team in this fixture, although the Under 2.5 goals bet looks very attractive indeed given RSL have drawn their last two matches goalless and the Under 2.5 is the market to be in.
That said, the Real Salt Lake vs Los Angeles FC prediction leans towards Los Angeles FC’s superior form of late and firepower up front of Bouanga should be enough to carry them to victory, but Real Salt Lake will make them work hard for it. Diego Luna, RSL’s leading scorer with 9 goals in 22 MLS 2025 appearances, is their main attacking threat and has the ability to score at any time.
