Real Salt Lake vs Portland Timbers: Portland Timbers Will Be Going Into the Match as the Favorites

• Real Salt Lake and Portland Timbers have 11 wins this season
• Portland Timbers are in the better spot and can go through with a draw
• Real Salt Lake need a win at all costs to make it to the playoffs

Real Salt Lake vs Portland Timbers Odds

Real Salt Lake vs Portland Timbers Prediction

Portland Timbers will be going into the match as the favorites to beat Real Salt Lake on the final day of the season. They have had the upper hand in this fixture and are on an unbeaten streak in this meeting.

The two sides could not break each other down in the meeting earlier this season, and the match ended in a goalless draw. Timbers were the dominant side and kept 66% of the ball, and took 15 shots, but failed to create a single big chance.

At the same time, Portland Timbers managed to create two golden chances for themselves but failed to convert from both. Real Salt Lake also ended up hitting the woodwork once and forced Aljaz Ivacic into making two crucial saves.

They also defended extremely well, frustrating the Timbers players and forcing them to take shots from outside the box. Goalkeeper Zac MacMath was easily the man of the match for the away side, and he will look to repeat the same this weekend.

While it was Real Salt Lake who walked out of the goalless draw with a smile on their face, it would be Timbers in a joyous mood if the scoreline is repeated this weekend. The away side only need to ensure that they do not lose this week to make it through to the playoffs.

However, with Real Salt Lake likely to attack more often than they did last time around, Portland Timbers should get a lot of space at the back and seal the win with ease.

Real Salt Lake’s Dip In Form Comes At The Wrong Time

Real Salt Lake are winless in their last five matches and the dip in form coun not have come at a worse time for them. They had the qualification odds in their favor after the win over Minnesota United in August but had a shocking run in September that saw them struggling for points.

Pablo Mastroeni’s side have drawn twice and lost three of their last five matches and now sit outside the top 7. The odds are against them right now and it would require the players to give their best from the start to get a result in this game.

Real Salt Lake’s Qualification Scenario Is Simple And Straightforward

Only one result this weekend will help Real Salt Lake qualify for the playoffs, and that would be a win over Portland Timbers. They do not have to worry about any other fixture as a win would see them jump to 47 points and move into the top 7 in the Western Conference regardless of the result in Minnesota United vs Vancouver Whitecaps.

Real Salt Lake’s Last Win Over Portland Timbers Was Back In 2020

To make things worse for Real Salt Lake, they face a side against whom they have a terrible record. They have lost five of their last six meetings with Portland Timbers, and their last win was in 2020.

In the meeting back in October 2020, Real Salt Lake made the most of their chances and secured a 2-0 win. Douglas Martínez scored the opening goal in the 11th minute, while Damir Kreilach doubled the lead in the 26th minute. They sat back and defended for the rest of the match and walked away with all three points.

They were the dominant side in the first half and had 53% of the ball, 9 shots, 4 on target, and two goals. But in the second half, the tables turned, but they ensured they did not concede a single goal.

Portland Timbers Slipped In The Last Two Matches But Have The Situation Under Control

Portland Timbers’ late run of form has seen them become the favorites to seal a playoff spot on the final day of the league season. They have won four and drawn one of their last six matches, collecting 13 points in the process.

The good run in the recent matches has seen them catapult themselves into the top 7 from an unlikely position at the start of September. They have made the most of the slump in form in Minnesota United and Real Salt Lake to move above them in the league table.

Portland Timbers Have The Odds In Their Favor On The Final Day Of The Season

Portland Timbers go into their final match of the regular season knowing that they have their future in their own hands. All they need to do is not lose the match to Real Salt Lake and that will help them secure a playoff spot.

Timbers currently sit 6th in the Western Conference with 11 wins from 33 matches. They have 46 points so far and cannot finish lower than 7th if they manage to get a point.

However, if they do lose, there is no chance of them making it to the playoffs. Both Minnesota United and Vancouver Whitecaps have more wins than Timbers, and at least one of them will finish above them in the table.

Portland Timbers Are On An Unbeaten Streak Against Real Salt Lake

Portland Timbers have a stunning record against Real Salt Lake and are unbeaten in the last six meetings. The away side have also won five of those matches, including a 3-0 win in the pre-season ahead of the 2022 campaign.

Cristhian Paredes, Jarosław Niezgoda, and Bill Tuiloma scored in the second half of the pre-season game to hand the Timbers an easy win.

The last competitive win over Real Salt Lake was when the two sides met in December last year. Felipe Mora handed them the lead in the fifth minute of the match and Santiago Moreno doubled it at the hour mark. The two goals were enough for Portland Timbers to secure a 2-0 win and collect all three points.

In the unbeaten run, Portland Timbers also have a stunning 6-1 win over Real Salt Lake. They registered that win just over a year ago and will be hoping to get a similar result this weekend. They had six different players getting on the scoresheet on that day, with Jarosław Niezgoda and Cristhian Paredes coming off the bench to score after Felipe Mora, Dairon Asprilla, Yimmi Chara and Diego Chara scored the opening four goals of the match. Damir Kreilach scored the lone goal for Real Salt Lake to make it 2-1 towards the end of the first half, but that did not spark a comeback.

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