If there ever was a clash of David versus Goliath in modern soccer, it may well be manifested in this upcoming match between the San Jose Earthquakes and Real Salt Lake.
Taking a candid gander at the keepers, Zac MacMath and Gavin Beavers have been holding the fort sturdy-like with 7.20 and 6.43 ratings respectively. I say, it's not quite the Great Wall of China, but it's a wall. On the other side, San Jose Earthquakes boasts a keeper by the name of Daniel, who's been posting impressive figures. His 7.53 rating along with 16 saves gives the team a beacon of hope under an otherwise stormy horizon.
Let's not dilly dally and get to the heart of the action though. Real Salt Lake's got Julio and Gonçalves, scoring 2 goals apiece with impressive accuracy rates hovering around the 66% and 82% mark. For the Earthquakes, Espinoza with his 7.42 rating is the standout player who keeps the Earthquakes' fans off their seats, alongside Rodrigues, who's been working hard with an 86.8% passing accuracy.
History serves as a gentle, yet stern reminder here. The past three matchups have shown this to be a relatively even contest. The Earthquakes have taken the lion's share of victories but Real Salt Lake showed sturdy spine, winning once.
Fast-forwarding to the current season, Real Salt Lake boasts a far more impressive record, having notched up 14 wins against San Jose's 6. This has been reflected in the immediate past as well, with Salt Lake's recent results being marginally better than San Jose's.
As much as I adore a good underdog story, this one has Real Salt Lake stamped all over it. Unless the Earthquake's Daniel pulls out miracles left, right and center, I reckon we're looking at a victory for Real Salt Lake by a conservative margin.
Albert’s Prediction: Real Salt Lake by 2