Storylines | RSL Look To Snap Dubious Streaks In Mastroeni’s Colorado Homecoming

By Javier Mico-Crump

Following its disappointing Leagues Cup exit on Tuesday in a 3-0 loss to Club León, Real Salt Lake now shifts its focus to MLS play, with the Club urgently looking to snap a seven-game winless streak in the regular season, one dating back to May 16. This Saturday, RSL returns to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in suburban Denver to play its ninth game in the month of August, taking on the Colorado Rapids in the 2026 Rocky Mountain Cup decider. 

This edition of Storylines highlights a homecoming for RSL’s manager and recounts recent trends in the historic rivalry between RSL and Colorado.

A Homecoming For Pablo Mastroeni

On Saturday, RSL boss Pablo Mastroeni once again returns to the stadium he once called home, where his iconic No. 25 jersey now hangs in the rafters. As a player, Mastroeni made 225 appearances for the Colorado Rapids, captaining the team to its first and only MLS Cup in 2010 and becoming the first player to have his jersey retired by the Club. Mastroeni also spent three years as the Rapids head coach from 2014-2017, guiding them in 2016 to that Club’s best-ever regular-season finish, before ultimately joining Real Salt Lake in 2021. 

Amidst a highly-congested schedule and a difficult run of form in MLS, Mastroeni and Co. now have an opportunity to rediscover its winning ways against their manger’s former club. To do so, the Claret-and-Cobalt will have to snap an eight-game road winless streak, and claim its first victory away from home since March 7 — a 3-2 win at Atlanta United, more than five months ago. Also with an active seven-game winless streak in MLS, the last time RSL captured the full three points on a league matchday was May 16, when the squad claimed a 2-1 comeback win against none other than rival Colorado. The Claret-and-Cobalt will look to repeat that performance against their Rocky Mountain Cup rivals on Saturday to break out of its current slump.

2026 Rocky Mountain Cup Adds To Historic Rivalry

The Rocky Mountain Cup is one of MLS’s most storied rivalries, with history dating back to RSL’s 2005 expansion introduction to the league. The Claret-and-Cobalt own the edge in the all-time series, holding an all-time record of 31-18-13 (W-L-T) against the Rapids, outscoring Colorado 98-66 in those matches. When playing at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in suburban Commerce City, the series is more balanced, with RSL holding a record of 10-13-6 in its 29 regular-season games in Denver, also winning away in its 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup run. 

Last time out against Rapids, it was RSL’s young stars that led the way to the 2-1 come-from-behind victory for RSL at America First Field. Recent Crystal Palace signing and Utah homegrown Zavier Gozo provided the equalizer in the 36th minute, and MLS Newcomer of the Year contender Sergi Solans scored the game-winner in the 66th with a sensational header to the top right corner. With Solans in phenomenal form - scoring in four of his last five matches - the Utah side will need a big performance from the Spanish-born rookie to secure the highly-elusive three points on Saturday.

Kickoff against the Colorado Rapids is set for 7:30 p.m. MT this Saturday, August 29, from Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, with the game available to stream on Apple TV. At the conclusion of its three-game road trip, RSL will return to America First Field next Saturday, September 5, to take on Korean world star Son Heung-Min and Los Angeles Football Club, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. MT. Tickets available at www.RSL.com/tickets.