Preview: San Jose Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake – Prediction, Team News, Lineups

For the last time in the 2024 Major League Soccer season San Jose earthquake are in action when greeting their fans Real salt lake to PayPal Park on Sunday.

The home side will take to the pitch with a rare victory last time out, while their visitors had to settle for a point for the third game in a row.

Game preview

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The San Jose Earthquakes showed great courage and emerged victorious in a thrilling five-goal game against FC Dallas when the teams faced off on Thursday.

Hernan Lopez was the undisputed star of the show Ian RussellHe scored goals in both halves, taking his goal tally for the season to six, which is now a personal best for the 24-year-old midfielder.

It was the first win in six games for the San Jose Earthquakes, who had come away empty-handed in all but one of their last five league games before Thursday's encounter.

The Goonies will definitely finish last MLS table However, it will be careful to avoid unwanted records such as most defeats, most goals conceded and fewest points.

With a 2-0 win in the second leg in August, Sunday's hosts have already beaten the visitors this season and are now aiming for a double in the first league of the season.

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Real Salt Lake failed to assert its dominance against Minnesota United and ultimately had to settle for a share of the spoils in Tuesday's clash at America First Field.

Pablo MastroeniIt was only in their fourth home game of the season that Manchester City's men failed to score, much to the surprise of their fans who averaged over two goals per game.

With a lead of six points from the last 15 available, the Claret and Cobalt are now well off the pace in the race for top spot in the Western Conference table as they now sit eight points behind leaders Los Angeles Galaxy.

Real Salt Lake takes the field into opposing territory for the last time before the end of the regular season and now looks for their first away triumph since June 20, when they beat Sporting Kansas City 4-3.

Form of the San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer:

Real Salt Lake Major League Soccer form:

Team news

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American trio Preston Judd, Benjamin Kikanovic And Jamar Ricketts are all unsuitable for use with the San Jose Earthquakes as they continue to nurse related injuries.

JT Marcinkowski is also guaranteed to be absent for the home team, and the goalkeeper is also out of action Michael Baldisimo And Ousseni Bouda.

Jose Bonilla And Pablo Ruiz are out for Real Salt Lake due to knee injuries, although the former has not played since the start of the season.

Marcelo Silva And Eric Holt continues to struggle with muscle problems and is not expected to play a role in this game alongside the suspended player Brayan Vera.

Vera's suspension this weekend means the 25-year-old Javain Brown was called into the visitors' starting eleven for the first time in five games.

Possible starting lineup for the San Jose Earthquakes:
Daniel; Akapo, Valdez, Beason, Verhoeven; Gruezo, Yueill; Espinoza, Lopez, Marie; Skahan

Possible Real Salt Lake starting lineup:
MacMath; Brown, Quinton, Glad, Brody; Eneli, Ojeda; Marczuk, Crooks, Goncalves; Arango

We say: San Jose Earthquakes 1-2 Real Salt Lake

A win against Dallas would have given the San Jose Earthquakes cause for optimism heading into this weekend's matchup, which still promises to be a tough test.

We expect Real Salt Lake to come out on top, albeit by a narrow margin.

For data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this game, please click here.

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