Preview:Real Salt Lake vs. Minnesota United - prediction, team news, lineups

Looking to return to winning ways off the back of consecutive stalemates, Real Salt Lake welcome Minnesota United to the Rio Tinto Stadium on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the visitors come into this one in search of a fourth win on the bounce to help continue their surge up the Major League Soccer Stadium.

Match preview

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Real Salt Lake were held to an entertaining 1-1 draw by FC Dallas in Sunday's contest between the sides at the Toyota Stadium in Frisco.

Pablo Mastroeni's men fell behind in the seventh minute to Alan Velasco's opener before drawing level just past the midway point in the second half through Julio Santos.

The Claret and Cobalt have dropped down to sixth place in the Western Conference as a result, but they remain in the driving seat in the race for a playoff spot with a three-point advantage over Portland Timbers, as well as a game in hand.

Coming up next for the Utah-based side is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have come out on top just once in the last five meetings involving the teams.

However, that solitary victory did come in the most recent encounter back in July, when Thursday's hosts were on the receiving end of a 3-2 defeat.

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Minnesota United exhibited great powers of recovery to come from behind and claim a 2-1 triumph over Houston Dynamo at the Allianz Field on Saturday.

Adrian Heath's men conceded a late first-half strike to Corey Baird before drawing level courtesy of a Fafa Picault own goal, after which Luis Amarilla grabbed the winner.

Having picked up nine points from the last nine available, the Loons now sit third in the Western Conference standings, but more importantly, they have opened up an eight-point buffer over the team outside the last playoff spot.

With four wins from their last five games away from home, Thursday's visitors will head into their latest clash on enemy territory with real belief.

Team News

Damir Kreilach is yet to make an appearance for Real Salt Lake since April due to a knee injury, and he remains sidelined for Thursday's game.

Twenty-nine-year-old Bobby Wood is also a guaranteed absentee for the hosts here due to a hamstring problem which has seen him miss 11 games in a row.

Bakaye Dibassy came off with a first half injury against Houston Dynamo, and the Malian is a doubt for Minnesota United's trip to Utah.

With four goals in his last five matches, Luis Amarilla is one to look out for here as the forward closes in on double-figure goals for the season.

Hassani Dotson and Jacori Hayes are both unavailable for the away side through injury, while Kemar Lawrence continues to nurse a muscle injury.

Real Salt Lake possible starting lineup:

MacMath; Brody, Silva, Glad, Herrera; Meram, Ruiz, Loffelsend, Chang; Savarino, Cordova

Minnesota United possible starting lineup:

Dayne; Benitez, Boxall, Kallman, Taylor; Arriaga, Lod; Hlongwane, Reynoso, Fragapane; Amarilla

We say: Real Salt Lake 1-1 Minnesota United

Real Salt have struggled on their own patch of late, but they still boast the meanest defence in home matches this term. Minnesota, on the other hand, are currently flying away from home but we are backing a share of the spoils here with honours even at the end of the 90 minutes.

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