Storylines | Schedule Gauntlet Continues As RSL Travels To Orlando

By Javier Mico-Crump

After concluding its five-game, 15-day homestand with a heartbreaking 3-4 stoppage-time loss to FC Dallas on Wednesday, Real Salt Lake are now back on the road to face Orlando City SC this Saturday. Having endured a strenuous run of six games in just 19 days in August, heavy rotation could be expected as Pablo Mastroeni and Co. prepare for the imminent three-game road trip, the centerpiece of which is Tuesday’s critical Leagues Cup Quarterfinal against Liga MX side Club León. 

This edition of storylines analyzes how RSL is dealing with its highly-congested schedule, identifying keys to watch in the battle against Orlando.

Significant Rotation Likely Against Orlando

After Wednesday’s narrow defeat, Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni attributed many of the game’s shortcomings to tired legs. Since returning from the World Cup break, RSL has been in constant action, with Saturday’s encounter at Orlando the ninth match the squad will play in a crucial run of 12 games in 44 days (a game on average every three and a half days). RSL has already played six matches in August and is preparing for an away stretch that will see them play three more before a first week of September that could see more critical Leagues Cup contests. 

With the crucial Leagues Cup Quarterfinal on Tuesday in Denver against León, Mastroeni hinted at making significant rotations to the starting lineup against Orlando - as he and his staff have done during the Phase One stage of the fourth-year MLS v Liga MX tourney - to ensure the squad remains as healthy and energetic as possible. 

Among those possibly getting a start on Saturday is MF Pablo Ruiz, who hasn’t seen the field much in MLS play this season, but shined brightly in each of the trio of home Leagues Cup matches. Against Tigres, Atlante and Juarez, the Argentinian metronome was one of RSL’s biggest difference-makers, scoring in back-to-back matches for his first goals since summer, 2023. In the Claret-and-Cobalt’s last matchup with Orlando, back in July, 2023, Ruiz tallied a hat-trick of assists in a dominant 4-0 win, also remembered as Cristian Arango’s RSL debut. With changes expected all over the field, Ruiz brings experience and poise that will be a needed complement to the young players around him.

RSL Meets New, Familiar Faces Against Orlando

The all-time series between Real Salt Lake and Orlando City is perfectly balanced, with the Utah side holding a record of 2-2-3 (W-L-T) against its Floridian counterparts. Recent history points to the Claret-and-Cobalt’s favor, however, with RSL unbeaten in its last three against Orlando, dating back to 2019, a span including that 4-0 drubbing in the most-recent matchup. 

Orlando enters Saturday with significant reinforcements, this weekend marking the first time RSL will face international legend Antoine Griezmann. Once considered amongst the best players on the planet, with a World Cup trophy and a top-three finish in the Ballon d’Or to his name, French superstar Griezmann joined Orlando in July and has made an immediate impact. The former Atletico Madrid star has tallied two goals and added two assists in eight matches with Orlando, undoubtedly the focal point of the Lions’ attack on Saturday. 

RSL will also see a familiar face this weekend, as former Real Salt Lake standout Braian Ojeda now plays in the purple and gold. The Paraguayan international made 123 appearances across three-plus seasons for the Claret-and-Cobalt, but will have to watch from the sidelines Saturday, suffering a broken fifth metatarsal in his foot just prior to Leagues Cup, the same injury suffered on Aug. 1 by RSL’s Griffin Dillon. 

Kickoff against Orlando City SC is set for 5:30 p.m. MT on Saturday from Inter & Co Stadium, with the game available to stream on Apple TV. Next Tuesday, August 25, RSL will then matriculate to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in suburban Denver, facing Club León in the highly-anticipated Leagues Cup Quarterfinal, streaming available on Apple TV with Max Bretos and Brian Dunseth on the call..