Austin FC vs Real Salt Lake – Match Preview

Major League Soccer’s Round 1 action heats up as Austin FC hosts Real Salt Lake at Q2 Stadium. The game, set for Saturday at 00:30 GMT, is shaping up to be a captivating showdown. Austin FC, placed 20th with 35 points, is keen to improve their standings. They aim to break into the top six, as pre-season predictions suggested. Real Salt Lake, in 5th place with 51 points, seeks a win to strengthen their high standing. Both teams are motivated to claim victory, with Austin FC looking for a boost and Real Salt Lake aiming to maintain their elite status.

Austin FC – Form

Austin FC’s recent performance has been inconsistent. Their last game on September 22nd ended in a 0:1 home defeat to Houston Dynamo FC, against expectations. Before that, they managed a 1:1 draw away at Los Angeles FC, with Jader Obrian scoring. Their previous match resulted in a 2:1 loss to Toronto FC away, with Owen Wolff scoring their only goal. These outcomes show resilience but also point to areas needing improvement. They have not won in their last three Major League Soccer matches.

Real Salt Lake – Form

Real Salt Lake has had mixed results in their recent away games. On September 22nd, they played to a thrilling 3-3 draw with Portland Timbers at home. Before that, they faced a 4-1 defeat away to Houston Dynamo FC, where their defense struggled. They did score through an own goal by Erik Sviatchenko. Before this loss, they achieved a 3-2 victory over FC Dallas at home. This win ended a 5-match winless streak against them.

Austin FC – Real Salt Lake – Head to Head

The last meeting on June 2, 2024, saw Real Salt Lake winning 5:1 against Austin FC. In their past 8 meetings, both teams have won 4 times each, showing a balanced rivalry. In the last 5 games, both teams scored in 4 of them, highlighting their offensive strengths. Austin FC has scored in their last 7 games against Real Salt Lake. They have also won 3 of the last 4 home games, scoring over 1.5 goals each time.

Austin FC – Real Salt Lake – Standings

The upcoming game at Q2 Stadium shows a clear difference in standings. Austin FC is 20th with 35 points from 30 matches. They have scored 32 goals and conceded 42. This performance is close to their pre-season expectation of being a mid-table team. However, they are currently underperforming. Real Salt Lake is in a better position, 5th with 51 points. They have scored 60 goals and conceded 45. Their standing reflects their pre-season prediction of finishing in the top 6. Austin FC aims to defy expectations, while Real Salt Lake wants to enhance their position.

Austin FC vs Real Salt Lake – Top scorers

Austin FC’s attack has been led by Jader Obrian, who has scored 6 times. Sebastian Driussi, a midfielder, has added 5 goals. Diego Rubio, another forward, has contributed 4 goals. Jon Gallagher and Gyasi Zardes have each scored 3 goals, showing the team’s depth in scoring.

For Real Salt Lake, Cristian Arango has been outstanding with 17 goals. Anderson Julio has added 9 goals from midfield. Diego Luna has contributed 6 goals. Defenders Alexandros Katranis and Brayan Vera have scored 3 and 2 goals, respectively, adding to the team’s attack.

Austin FC vs Real Salt Lake – Full-Time Betting

Bookmakers offer odds of 2.30 for an Austin FC win, 3.50 for a draw, and 2.90 for a Real Salt Lake victory. Despite Austin’s home advantage, their rank and recent form suggest Real Salt Lake might have the upper hand. The evenly split head-to-head record and Austin’s scoring trend could influence the outcome. Injuries and suspensions might also impact the result.

Alternative markets include “halftime-fulltime” odds of 3.25 for an Austin win followed by a Real Salt Lake win. The “draw-no-bet” market offers Austin at 1.667 and Real Salt Lake at 2.10. The “double-chance” market has odds of 1.286 for a Real Salt Lake win or draw, appealing to cautious bettors.

Austin FC vs Real Salt Lake – Over/Under Betting

The “goals:over:2.5” odds are 1.615, indicating an expected high-scoring game. This matches the trend of both teams surpassing 2.5 goals in their last 7 encounters. Austin FC averages 1.07 goals per match, while conceding 1.4. Real Salt Lake scores 2 goals per match and has a slightly better defense. Given both teams’ attacking strength and their history, the “goals:over:2.5” bet is attractive. The “goals:under:2.5” at 2.25 might interest those expecting a more cautious game.

Austin FC vs Real Salt Lake – BTTS Betting

The odds for “BTTS: Yes” are 1.53, suggesting a good chance of both teams scoring. History shows that 6 out of their last 7 games ended with both teams scoring. Austin FC’s recent home games and Real Salt Lake’s away form support this trend. Thus, “BTTS: Yes” is a likely outcome for this match.

Austin FC vs Real Salt Lake – Prediction