Real Salt Lake Heads To Chicago After International Break

Jun 21, 2019, 4:25 PM | Updated: 4:38 pm

Bastian Schweinsteiger #31 and Raheem Edwards #7 of Chicago Fire moves to avoid Alexandru Mitrita #28 of New York City near the goal at SeatGeek Stadium on May 25, 2019 in Bridgeview, Illinois. The Fire and NYCFC tied 1-1. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

BY TOM HACKETT, KSL SPORTS

KSL Sports

SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake will head out on the road to face the Chicago Fire in the hopes of getting back to their winning ways.

After an extended international break that involved a 3-0 loss to LAFC in the fourth round of the U.S. Open, RSL will be determined to start its playoff push. The extended international break is often referred to as the unofficial halftime of the Major League Soccer season. Real Salt Lake will be fresh and ready to embark on yet another playoff run, hopefully.

Jefferson Savarino will not be available for selection as the young Venezuelan is away for his national team competing in the Copa America tournament located in Brazil. Venezuela will take on Bolivia on Saturday at 1 p.m. and if they are able to win, they will more than likely qualify for the knockout tournament leaving Real Salt lake without Savarino for a longer period of time. Savarino has also been linked to Premier League clubs Newcastle United and West Ham United for a transfer fee of $7.5 million.

We'll 👀 you 🔜 @ChicagoFire. pic.twitter.com/Z08S5PmDTB

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) June 20, 2019

History Between RSL, Chicago

Aug 4, 2018: RSL 2 – 1 CHI @ Rio Tinto Stadium
Mar 11, 2017: CHI 2 – 0 RSL @ Seatgeek Stadium
Aug 6, 2016: RSL 3 – 1 CHI @ Rio Tinto Stadium
May 9, 2015: CHI 1 – 2 RSL @ Seatgeek Stadium
May 3, 2014: CHI 2 – 3 RSL @ Seatgeek Stadium

Pretty Cold For Fire

The Fire have not won in five consecutive games, including a 2-1 loss to USL side St. Louis FC in the U.S. Open fourth round.

However, that is not to say they do not have any talent. Nicolas Gaitan was acquired in March from Chinese club Dalian Yifang but spent time at European giants Benfica and Atletico Madrid. Gaitan currently leads the team in assists with five and has a pair of goals to go along with them.

German superstar Bastian Schweinsteiger who has for many years controlled midfield battles, now plays at center back. At 31 years of age, their is no question that the legs of Scheweinsteiger cannot cover as much ground as they once could. It is still very strange that head coach Veljko Paunović has decided to put a man that for years has terrorized opposing teams with his delivery and touch in a position that rarely allows for that.

Currently, the Fire sit in the ninth spot in the Eastern Conference with 18 points.

RSL Club Update

Real Salt Lake will have everyone but Savarino, who is still with the Venezuelan national team competing in the Copa America tournament.

Albert Rusnak will return from his short stint with the Slovakian national team after playing 90 minutes against Azerbaijan in a match which Slovakia won 5-1. The game was a UEFA EURO qualifying match.

✌️ days ✌️ go. See you Saturday.
🎟 https://t.co/2Z1rf4O2l7 pic.twitter.com/IsTNAbjnUv

— Chicago Fire (@ChicagoFire) June 21, 2019

It seems as though the Joao Plata to Liga MX move has fallen apart and will not go through. Plata, who is in his seventh season with RSL, will need to find his form if he is wanting to pick up minutes in the first team. Plata has struggled through muscle injuries and lack of form this season.

Broadcast Info

The match against the Chicago Fire will kickoff at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

The match can be streamed live on KSLSports.com or on the KSL TV app.

RSL Podcasts

KSLSports.com, in collaboration with Real Salt Lake, has launched a new podcast, The RSL Lion’s Den. It is the official Real Salt Lake podcast for all club news and updates. KSL Sports analysts Tom Hackett and Spencer Warne, along with RSL PR director Matt Gashck break down the games and discuss important club matters.

To listen to The Lion’s Den, click here. It is available on iTunes, Google Play or wherever podcasts are found. Please rate and subscribe to The Lion’s Den for all things Real Salt Lake.

Head coach Mike Petke and TV analyst Brian Dunseth have launched their own podcast titled Off The Chest. The duo discuss all matters of the world’s game in a entertaining and informative podcast that will be sure bring the laughs.