After another upsetting Derby loss against the Galaxy, LAFC look to bounce back yet again as they fly out to Windy Sandy, Utah where they face Real Salt Lake. RSL aren’t in a good spell either, as they continue to look for answers after failing to grab three points since their first game of the regular season restart.

Coming off of a 4-0 loss to Minnesota United FC, Real Salt Lake (9 pts, 2-5-2, 8th) are 1-2-1 in their last four games, having not won a game since the beginning of the Phase 1 restart. Led by team leading scorer, Damir Kreilach, and supporting cast midfielder, Albert Rusnak, RSL are a squad no one should underestimate, especially in crunch time. That was shown in their 2-2 draw against the Seattle Sounders, as Pablo Ruiz scored a wonder strike in the closing minutes to grab a point. With a fighting heart, Real Salt Lake look to go back to winning ways against LAFC.

RSL aren’t the same team that knocked LAFC out of the playoffs in 2018, but aren’t the only club who needs to do a little bit of soul searching. Photo Credit: Real Salt Lake via Instagram (@realsaltlake) — **RSL aren’t the same team that knocked LAFC out of the playoffs in 2018, but aren’t the only club who needs to do a little bit of soul searching.** Photo Credit: Real Salt Lake via Instagram (@realsaltlake)

Despite the recent drop in form, LAFC still happen to have MLS’s leading scorer in Diego Rossi. Photo Credit: LAFC via Instagram (@lafc) — **Despite the recent drop in form, LAFC still happen to have MLS’s leading scorer in Diego Rossi.** Photo Credit: LAFC via Instagram (@lafc)

As for LAFC, they are in a very similar form as their opponent, losing three out of their last four games, including two pathetic derby losses against the Galaxy. The Black and Gold look to get back to their usual positive form by grabbing as much points as possible, against RSL. Can Bob Bradley and his star-studded squad pick up the slack in their final matches of the Phase one restart? Or will the absence of Carlos Vela and Eduard Atuesta continue to expulse LAFC from reaching their peak performance?

JR4’s Keys to the Match

• Keep Attacking, but Finish!
Last Sunday’s match against the Galaxy, LAFC had a 14:1 Shot advantage over their rivals with 7 shots on goal, and were somehow still not able to get the ball into the back of the net. Yes, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, but you shouldn’t necessarily be missing 100% of them. LAFC need to have their conversion rate implement their attacking rate, simply by scoring. Not as easy as it sounds, but needs to happen.

• Organization

This key belongs to the Goalkeeper and the backline. Communication between the two is without a doubt the most important thing to have for a balanced and productive defense. As you have seen in the past few games, if one player causes a disruption to the harmony between the backline, the defense begins to breakdown sporadicly, making it hard for everyone to regain composure and reset themselves as a whole. LAFC’s defense must remain organized, and when a fault occurs, they need to reconfigure it as quick as possible, or else the opposing team will take advantage of that for as long as they can.

Final Key: Diego Rossi

Hey Diego! Do. Your. Thing.

LAFC takes on Real Salt Lake tonight @ 7:30 PM pacific! Game will be broadcasted and debuted on the new Spanish-telecast partner in Estrella TV, or for out-of-market viewers, on ESPN+. For more articles and reviews on LAFC, subscribe to the Los Angeles Saga newsletter and watch The 110 Football Show every Thursday night @ 6 PM!