Preview: San Jose Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake - prediction, team news, lineups

Major League Soccer's bottom-ranked side from 2024 will aim for a fresh start to their 2025 campaign as they play host to Real Salt Lake in the season opener on Saturday.

The hosts were the worst-performing side in MLS last year, while the visitors were eliminated by Minnesota United in the MLS Cup Western Conference round one playoffs.

Match preview

San Jose Earthquakes endured arguably the worst year in MLS history in 2024, matching a league record with 25 defeats and breaking the record for goals conceded with 78.

That marks the latest chapter in a long history of underachievement for the Quakes, who have not managed a winning season since 2013 and have failed to secure a victory in the MLS Cup playoffs since 2012.

However, the Earthquakes will have new-found enthusiasm heading into the 2025 season, with the legendary manager Bruce Arena taking charge for the upcoming campaign.

Arena holds the record for the most wins as manager of the men's USA national team and has accumulated the most victories and titles in MLS history, including five MLS Cups, four Supporters' Shields, four MLS Coach of the Year awards and five NCAA titles, leaving the Quakes in the hands of a man with unparalleled experience.

The legendary boss is no stranger to turning teams' fortunes around, having led an LA Galaxy side without a winning record in four years to two Supporters' Shields and four MLS Cup finals in six seasons, while also leading New England Revolution from three years without a winning record or playoff appearance to the best regular-season record in MLS history.

San Jose Earthquakes have struggled in preseason, winning only one of five matches against MLS opposition, but they will be hoping that Arena can work his magic from day one of the 2025 MLS campaign.

The Earthquakes will also look to draw confidence from their strong record against Salt Lake at home, having won seven, drawn four and lost just two of their last 13 meetings at the Avaya Stadium.

However, Salt Lake are heading into this season on the back of a superb 2024 campaign, finishing sixth in the MLS table as they secured 59 points from 24 games, after 16 wins, 11 draws and seven defeats.

Despite being the favourites to progress past their Western Conference round one playoff tie with Minnesota United, they were disappointingly defeated on penalties in both legs.

That elimination will likely serve as strong motivation for Salt Lake to make a deeper run in the MLS Cup this time around, but their preseason has been far from desirable.

Pablo Mastroeni, in charge since August 2021, led Claret and Cobalt to only one win from their five pre-season fixtures, a 3-0 win against Las Vegas Lights, while they started their competitive campaign with a 0-0 draw against Herediano in the first round of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Salt Lake have also won only one of their last three opening fixtures to an MLS campaign, including a defeat to Inter Miami last season, leaving Mastroeni hoping for an improved start this time round.

San Jose Earthquakes form (all competitions):

Real Salt Lake form (all competitions):

Team News

San Jose Earthquakes were busy in the transfer market, signing the likes of Josef Martinez, Cristian Arango, Nick Lima, Earl Edwards Jr, Dave Romney, Ian Harkes and Mark-Anthony Kaye, and all seven may be in contention for a starting spot here.

Last season's top scorer Amahl Pellegrino is expected to keep his place in the middle of the park, but with this being Arena's first competitive match in charge, the remainder of the starting 11 is uncertain.

As for Salt Lake, Alexandros Katranis is a doubt after the defender was taken off in the 19th-minute of their season-opening draw with Herediano, meaning Sam Junqua may start.

Last term's top scorers, Andres Gomez and Arango - who will face his former side on Saturday - are both no longer with the club, meaning Forster Ajago could lead the line.

San Jose Earthquakes possible starting lineup: Daniel; Munie, Wilson, Romney; Costa, Kaye, Harkes, Pellegrino, Lopez; Arango, Martinez

Real Salt Lake possible starting lineup: Cabral; Hidalgo, Henry, Vera, Junqua; Ojeda, Eneli; Marczuk, Brook, Goncalves; Ajago

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

San Jose Earthquakes will be lifted by the fans in their first competitive match under Arena's management, and with Salt Lake having an unfavourable record at the Avaya Stadium, we believe the hosts will scrape a narrow victory.

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