Los Angeles FC vs Real Salt Lake Prediction: Team News and Lineups Preview

The Euros and Copa America may be over, but fear not as Matthew O’Regan has his Los Angeles FC vs Real Salt Lake prediction, team news, lineups and fixtures preview. The sides are joint top of the Western Conference, so an entertaining game is expected.

• LAFC vs Real Salt Lake Tip 1: Denis Bouanga to score
• LAFC vs Real Salt Lake Tip 2: Over 10.0 Asian Corners
• LAFC vs Real Salt Lake Tip 3: LAFC -1 Asian Handicap

Los Angeles FC vs Real Salt Lake Prediction 1: Bouanga Bonanza

U.S.A, MLS, Thursday, July 18th 3:30 (UK)

After 25 goals in his full debut campaign for Los Angeles FC, Denis Bouanga looks well on track to match those goalscoring antics this year. The Gabonese international has 14 goals in 23 matches as he targets the golden boot. 

Boaunga is averaging 0.64 goals, 0.73 xG, 5.32 shots and 1.74 shots on target per 90, playing upfront for an attack minded Los Angeles FC side that have scored 44 goals in 22 games. 

Despite being second in the league, Real Salt Lake have conceded 30 goals in 23 games, keeping just one clean sheet in their last ten games. When the sides met in August in the Leagues Cup at the BMO stadium, the 29-year-old bagged a brace as Steven Cherundolo’s side ran out easy 4-0 winners

With the golden boot firmly in his sights and a rich vein of form, Bouanga will fancy a goal or two on Wednesday night.

• Los Angeles FC vs Real Salt Lake Prediction 1: Denis Bouanga to score (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.72
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10

Los Angeles FC vs Real Salt Lake Prediction 2: Counting Corners

LAFC games are usually high octane, with plenty of attacking football on display. Denis Bouanga and Mateusz Bogusz are goal-scoring wingers, preferring to play tighter to target man Kei Kamara upfront. Therefore, this gives greater licence for maurading wing backs Ryan Hollingshead and Sergi Palencia to get high up the pitch and cross to the prolific front three. 

This style of play has led for more corners for Los Angeles FC, with the Falcons averaging 6.42 corners per home game, hitting at least six corners in 10/12 of their home games. They also concede their fair share of corners, averaging 5.17 corners conceded per home game. 

In total, LAFC home games have seen at least 10 corners in 10/12 this season, including their last nine games. Games at the BMO arena are averaging 11.58 corners – the second-highest amount in the league. 

Real Salt Lake are averaging 4.58 corners per away game, conceding 6.17. Their away games see an average of 10.75 corners, with 7/11 away games seeing at least 10 corners. 

Both teams will want to assert their dominance in the hunt for the Western Conference title, so expect a frantic end-to-end game. 

• Los Angeles FC vs Real Salt Lake Prediction 2: Over 10 Asian Corners (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.80
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10

Los Angeles FC vs Real Salt Lake Prediction 3: LAFC to bounce back

A shock 1-5 home loss to Columbus Crew last time out halted a run of 13 games unbeaten, in which LAFC had won 12. It was also their first home defeat of the season, having won nine and drawn two of their previous 11 home games. 

Steven Cherundolo will be keen to ensure heads don’t drop and they return to their electric best against Real Salt Lake as they look to win the MLS championships after a disappointing loss to Columbus Crew in last years final. 

Before this 1-5 drubbing, Los Angeles FC had won their last eight home games in all competitions, with six of these by a margin of more than one goal. 

Real Salt Lake have the third best away record in the conference, picking up 18 points in 12 games on their travels. Despite this, Pablo Mastroeni’s side have won just one of their last five away games, conceding 12 goals in the process.

• Los Angeles FC vs Real Salt Lake Prediction 3: LAFC -1 Asian Handicap 
• Best Odds: 1.75
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 8/10

Los Angeles FC vs Real Salt Lake Prediction odds via bet365 as at 09:00, July 16th,2024 Odds may now differ.

Los Angeles FC vs Real Salt Team News and Possible Lineups: Suspensions for Both

LAFC’s 1-5 loss to Columbus Crew was ill-discplined, with centre back Jesus Murillo and right back Sergi Palencia being sent off late on. Both will miss this game. Veteran centre back Aaron Long is expected to stand in for Murillo, while young Mexican left back Omar Campos may be trusted as a makeshift right back. Cristian Olivera is still missing after his Copa America exploits with defeated semi-finalists Uruguay.

Real Salt Lake were shook by the news that golden boot leader Cristian Arango is to be suspended for four games. The Colombian has 17 goals already and is averaging 0.82 goals per 90, so is a huge miss. Experienced defensive duo Marcelo Silva and Justen Glad also miss out through injury, as does creative maestro Pablo Ruiz.

Los Angeles FC possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Campos, Long, Chanot, Hollingshead; Duenas, Sanchez, Atuesta; Bogusz, Kamara, Bouanga

Real Salt Lake possible starting lineup:
MacMath; Brody, Hidalgo, Vera, Katranis; Ojeda, Eneli; Luna, Crooks, Gomez; Arango

Match Stats: Positive signs for LAFC

• LAFC have the best home record in the MLS
• Real Salt Lake have kept just five clean sheets this season
• Six of the last eight meetings have seen at least three goals
• Bouanga (14) and Arango (17) are the two top scorers in the league. 

Los Angeles FC Fixtures: Competing on all fronts

• Vs Real Salt Lake (H)
• Vs Seattle Sounders (A)
• Vs Tijuana (H)
• Vs Vancouver Whitecaps (H)
• Vs Vancouver Whitecaps (A)

Real Salt Lake Fixtures: Tough Spell 

• Vs LAFC (A)
• Vs Colorado Rapids (A)
• Vs Atlas (H)
• Vs Houston Dynamo (A)
• Vs San Jose Earthquake (H)

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