Two in-form teams will play against each other on Saturday as Houston Dynamo visit Real Salt Lake in the MLS Western Conference.
Salt Lake are just four points off conference leaders Los Angeles F.C., while Houston currently occupy the final playoff position in seventh.
Match preview
© Reuters
This season has been a complete turnaround for Houston, who finished bottom of the MLS Western Conference last season.
A new manager has been key to that transformation with Paulo Nagamura getting an instant tune out of his players, who now have playoff ambitions.
Having conceded just 14 goals in 13 league games, only Dallas with 12 have shipped fewer than Houston in the Western Conference so that solid, defensive foundation has allowed Saturday's visitors to flourish this season.
However, not long ago Houston went on a three-match losing streak, but they were able to turn that around and now have two wins in their past three games, with just one goal conceded in that time.
The stand-out victory must be their most recent game - a 3-0 victory over LA Galaxy - but Houston will be playing another tough opponent on Saturday, who have ambitions of topping the standings.
Salt Lake are currently on good form themselves, with three wins in their past four games, and the hosts beat Houston 2-1 in the last encounter between these two sides.
Therefore, that should leave them confident for Saturday but despite pushing towards the top of the standings, this season Salt Lake have a negative goal difference of three.
It is in attack where they have struggled, scoring just 14 goals this season, so it will be interesting to see if they can find a way past Houston's defence, despite the stats.
However, if they do not find a way past Houston and the visitors come out with a victory, then these sides will be separated by just a point in the Western Conference.
- L
- D
- W
- L
- W
- W
- L
- D
- W
- L
- W
- W
- L
- L
- L
- W
- L
- W
- L
- W
- W
- L
- W
- L
Team News
© Reuters
Salt Lake's Scott Caldwell is back available for selection, after he was forced to miss the last match through a yellow card suspension.
However, the home side will still have several players unavailable for Saturday's match due to injury, with Zack Farnsworth (ankle), Bret Halsey (ankle), Erik Holt (foot), Jonathan Menendez (adductor) and Damir Kreilach (back) all sidelined.
Houston, meanwhile, also have players returning from suspension with Adam Lundqvist and Adalberto Carrasquilla both coming back into the fold.
They also have Daniel Steres still sidelined through injury but other than that, they have a full clean bill of health.
Real Salt Lake possible starting lineup:
MacMath; Herrera, Glad, Silva, Brody; Chang, Loffelsend, Caldwell, Meram; Cordova, Wood
Houston Dynamo possible starting lineup:
Clark; Zeca, Parker, Hadebe, Lundqvist; Ceren, Vera; Baird, Rodriguez, Ulfarsson; Ferreira
We say: Real Salt Lake 0-1 Houston Dynamo
Despite Salt Lake being above Houston in the standings, the home side struggle for goals which is not a good sign considering they play one of the league's strongest defences on Saturday.
Therefore, this should play a key factor in the game, which is why Houston might upset the home side and edge the victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Previews by email
The 2023 MLS season is now up and running, and you can watch every game live with the MLS season pass on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.
