2020 is officially back and as usual, we’ll be scouting every opponent for each match. First up, our Lions will be meeting Real Salt Lake on Saturday in the season opener at Exploria Stadium. This is the second time the two sides have met in Orlando to open an MLS campaign. Who could forget the first meeting back in 2016 thanks to late heroics from Adrian Winter? This is a look at the 2020 RSL side:
Key Transactions
We have to talk about departures first because Real Salt Lake was hit hard this offseason. Tony Beltran and Nick Rimando retired while Joao Plata and Kelyn Rowe left and Brooks Lennon was traded to Atlanta.
On the flip side, Real Salt Lake has been relatively quiet in the transfer market with two USL Championship signings Maikel Chang and Alvin Jones as well as two homegrown signings. The most notable additions have been Justin Meram and Zac MacMath.
Team Form
According to mlssoccer.com Real Salt Lake only had three preseason tune-up games. The side didn’t fare well recording two losses and one draw. The losses came against the Houston Dynamo and Phoenix Rising. Salt Lake only managed two goals in those three matches and was held scoreless twice.
Head-to-Head
The Lions hold a 2-1-2 record in MLS regular season play against RSL. The first loss against RSL came last season with a 2-1 defeat at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Rasmussen College Fun Fact
The last time City and RSL met to open a season was back in 2016 with the match ending 2-2. Both teams received red cards and it took two stoppage-time goals for the Lions to pull out a result.
