The Seattle Sounders are visiting Real Salt Lake on Saturday in the second of back-to-back meetings. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. PT at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.
WHERE TO WATCH: The game will be televised on JOEtv and YouTube TV.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The game will air on 950 KJR AM and in Spanish on El Rey 1360 AM.
2018 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 2-6-2 (8 points, 11th West), RSL: 5-6-1 (16 points, 9th West).
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 9-10-4 all time against RSL, including a 1-7-2 mark on the road.
PREVIOUS MEETING: RSL defeated the Sounders 1-0 last weekend at CenturyLink Field behind a second-half goal from Sebastian Saucedo.
WORLD CUP DUTY: The Sounders will be without Román Torres (Panama), Nicolás Lodeiro (Uruguay) and Gustav Svensson (Sweden), who have all departed for their respective national team camps ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Kelvin Leerdam battles with RSL’s Justen Glad last weekend at CenturyLink Field | Jane Gershovich
BRUIN, RODRÍGUEZ CLOSE: Head Coach Brian Schmetzer said that forward Will Bruin (partially torn plantar fascia) and winger Víctor Rodríguez (knee sprain) could be available for Saturday if everything goes well in training this week. Bruin leads the team with three goals in 2018, while Rodríguez is looking to make his season debut.
BWANA HURT: After exiting in the first half last weekend with a foot injury, rookie Handwalla Bwana underwent an MRI on Monday. His status for this weekend is uncertain.
NEW FORMATION: Schmetzer trotted out a new 4-1-4-1 formation last weekend, a slight alteration to his normal 4-2-3-1 and recent 5-4-1.
CHENKAM SIGNS: Ahead of the match last weekend, the Sounders signed S2 forward Felix Chenkam to a First Team contract. He was on the bench as a substitute against RSL, but did not feature, and will be looking to make his MLS debut in Utah.
GOALKEEPING BATTLE: Saturday’s match will feature a battle of two of the best MLS ‘keepers in Stefan Frei and Nick Rimando, who recently heaped praise on one another.
RUSNÁK OUT: Star playmaker Albert Rusnák won’t feature for Real Salt Lake on Saturday as he joins the Slovakia national team ahead of two international friendlies.
