Game Preview & How to Watch: Real Salt Lake vs Colorado Rapids

On Saturday, August 26th, the Colorado Rapids will travel to the Wasatch Front in Utah to play Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8:00 pm MT and the match will be broadcast on Altitude.

The Colorado Rapids will look to halt a seven-game winless run, but they will have to do so in a stadium where they have never earned three points. The last time Colorado defeated Real Salt Lake in Utah was when the RSL played at Rice-Eccles Stadium on the campus of the University of Utah. Rio Tinto Stadium opened in 2008 in the Salt Lake City suburb of Sandy.

Colorado (6-14-4, 22 points) currently find themselves sharing the bottom of the Western Conference with Minnesota United and are not dead last in the league only due to goal differential. Interim coach Steve Cooke could win the hearts of supporters quickly with a win over Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Rivals. The playoffs are most likely a distant dream this season, but a win over RSL could lead to the coveted Rocky Mountain Cup.

RSL (9-13-5, 32 points) are only three points back from the final playoff spot in the West. The Claret and Cobalt are fresh off a 4-0 thrashing of San Jose Earthquakes at home on Wednesday. Luis Silva scored in the first half while Jefferson Savarino, Albert Rusnak, and Yura Movsisyan all tallied in the second half to see off the visitors.

The Rapids had a midweek clash in Portland against the Timbers which ended in a 2-1 loss against the Oregon side. Mohammed Saeid scored his first MLS goal but it was not enough as Diego Valeri and Darlington Nagbe scored to put Colorado to the sword.

It is unclear if new Rapids signing Stefan Aigner will feature on Saturday. The German attacker was not in the game day roster against Portland on Wednesday. On Thursday, the Rapids released Juan Ramirez.

Should Colorado record a victory over Real Salt Lake on Saturday, that will mean the Rocky Mountain Cup will be decided on the final league match-day of the season in Commerce City.

Injuries/Suspensions

Colorado

QUESTIONABLE: none

OUT: Zac MacMath (knee)

Salt Lake

QUESTIONABLE: Demar Phillips (hamstring), Marcelo Silva (hamstring), Matt VanOekel (ankle)

OUT: Ricardo Velazco (ankle), Omar Holness (knee), Jordan Allen (knee), Chad Barrett (knee), Kyle Beckerman (suspended for yellow card accumulation)

How to Watch

Match Date/Time: Saturday, August 26, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. MT

Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium—Sandy, UT

TV Information: Altitude

Radio: Altitude950

Live Stream: MLS Live (blackouts apply)

Weather at Kickoff: mid-80s and clear