LA Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake 10/1/22 - Major League Soccer Picks & Predictions

The LA Galaxy host Real Salt Lake on Saturday in a MLS Western Conference fixture between two clubs battling for a berth in the postseason. The Galaxy is fifth in the conference table at 13-7-12 on 46 points with a goal difference of +5. LA Galaxy defeated San Jose 3-2 in its most recent MLS fixture last Saturday. Javier Hernandez scored a brace with goals in the 12th and 69th minute and Gaston Brugman scored in the 42nd minute for Galaxy. LA is only one point above the seventh and final qualifying spot in the conference

LA Galaxy has lost just one of its last nine matches in MLS play with four wins and four draws. LA has won each of its last two but has not won three straight MLS fixtures in more than two years. Javier Hernandez is the leading goal scorer for LA Galaxy with 17 and Dejan Joveljic has scored 10. Julian Araujo is the leader in assists with six, while Ricard Puig has five.

Real Salt Lake is eighth in the conference table at 11-10-11 on 43 points with a goal difference of -4. Real Salt Lake is two points shy of the seventh and final qualifying spot in the conference. Real Salt Lake's most recent fixture was a 2-1 loss to Atlas in a club friendly and prior to that Real Salt Lake lost to FC Cincinnati 2-1 at home in its most recent MLS fixture.

Real Salt Lake has taken just one point from the last four MLS fixtures with one draw and three losses, while losing each of the two road matches during that span and was outscored by a combined 5-0 in the two road matches. Sergio Cordova is the leading goal scorer for Real Salt Lake with eight, while Jefferson Savarino has scored six. Justin Meram is the leader in assists with six.