Short Scouting Report: Real Salt Lake

There's really not a lot to be said about Real Salt Lake that hasn't already been said. Ever since slipping into the playoffs last season and upsetting the Columbus Crew en route to their first MLS Cup, the champions of the league have been on fire. Recently setting an MLS record for most consecutive games without a loss at home with 23, they're pretty much impossible to defeat at Rio Tinto stadium in Salt Lake.

The supporters shield looks like a very real possibility for Salt Lake along with a repeat MLS Cup championship as they sit only 3 points behind the Galaxy, several points above any of the contenders from the East including two time winners the Columbus Crew. RSL has a plethora of goal scorers, including Alvaro Saborio, Javier Morales and the US National Team's favorite whipping boy Robbie Findley. Their stifling defense and good work of goalkeeper Nick Rimando has kept their GAA down in the 0.64 region as well.

This game's been a long time coming, everyone. Colorado and Real Salt Lake have one of the - if not THE - most heated rivalries in MLS. I don't think that's coming as a surprise to anybody on either side of the divide here, but trust me outsiders, we're not nice people to each other. Colorado may lead the Rocky Mountain Cup rivals 9-6-3 overall in the all time series, but Salt Lake has been the dominant team in the past year or two. This should be a fun one.

For the Salt Lake fans, I mean. Colorado ain't winning this.