San Jose Earthquakes vs Real Salt Lake Lineups, Prediction, Betting Picks & Odds

San Jose Earthquakes vs Real Salt Lake Game Preview

Real Salt Lake visit PayPal Park on Halloween for San Jose's regular-season home finale, and our San Jose Earthquakes vs Real Salt Lake prediction expects an afternoon with goals at both ends.

Bruce Arena's side are postseason-bound but winless in their last five MLS games, and needed to overcome a second-half red card to salvage a point from behind against Colorado Rapids.

Real Salt Lake arrive hot. Three straight MLS wins, capped by a comeback victory over Austin FC at Q2 Stadium, have lifted them into the second Western Conference playoff spot.

Across the last six meetings, San Jose own three wins to Salt Lake's two, with one tie. A home finale is no time to hand that edge back.

San Jose Earthquakes vs Real Salt Lake Recent Results

San Jose have gone unbeaten in 10 of the last 11 MLS games, so this is not a team in freefall, just one that has stopped winning lately. Their best work comes on the counter and from set pieces, and Preston Judd, with 16 regular-season goals alongside designated player Eduard Löwen, is the man who finishes it off.

Real Salt Lake have scored at least 2 goals in their last 3 MLS games, and 5 of Salt Lake's last 6 league games have gone over 2.5 goals. This is a side that attacks down the wings and takes a lot of shots, with Sergi Solans leading the line and Saba Lobjanidze roaming behind him.

San Jose Earthquakes vs Real Salt Lake Lineups & Team News

Injuries & Suspensions

San Jose Earthquakes: DeJuan Jones (Injured/out), Jack Skahan (Injured/out), Benji Kikanović (Injured/out), Jonathan González (Injured/out), Darius Johnson (Injured/out), Nonso Adimabua (Injured/out), Timo Werner (Suspended)

Real Salt Lake: Lukas Engel (Injured/out), Diego Luna (Injured/out), Juan Jose Arias (Injured/out), Emeka Eneli (Injured/out), Griffin Dillon (Injured/out), Morgan Guilavogui (Suspended)

San Jose Earthquakes

Timo Werner is suspended after his red card against Colorado Rapids, so expect Niko Tsakiris to step into the starting XI. That is the headline change in the Quakes' lineup, and with six injuries on top of it, San Jose are running thin on depth.

Real Salt Lake

Morgan Guilavogui serves a one-game ban for yellow card accumulation, with Ariath Piol expected to replace him. Salt Lake are also without five injured players, including Diego Luna and Emeka Eneli.

San Jose Earthquakes vs Real Salt Lake Predicted Lineup

San Jose Earthquakes

Formation: 4-2-3-1 (probable)

Predicted Starting Lineup: Angus Gunn; Vítor Costa, Reid Roberts, Daniel Munie, Jack Jasinski; Ronaldo Vieira, Beau Leroux; Niko Tsakiris, Eduard Löwen, Ousseni Bouda; Preston Judd (probable)

Real Salt Lake

Formation: 3-4-2-1 (probable)

Predicted Starting Lineup: Rafael Cabral; Kobi Henry, Philip Quinton, Luc de Fougerolles; Juan Manuel Sanabria, Noel Calışkan, Stijn Spierings, Dominik Marczuk; Ariath Piol, Saba Lobjanidze; Sergi Solans (probable)

San Jose Earthquakes vs Real Salt Lake Key Stats & Game Facts

• Real Salt Lake have had 6+ shots on target in 7 out of 10 games vs San Jose Earthquakes (Major League Soccer).
• There have been 29+ shots taken in 4 of the last 6 meetings between Real Salt Lake and San Jose Earthquakes (Major League Soccer).
• Sergi Solans has scored or assisted in 3 of his last 3 appearances (Major League Soccer).
• Niko Tsakiris has won 2+ fouls in 3 of his last 4 appearances vs Real Salt Lake (Major League Soccer).
• Alexandros Katranis has been carded in 2 of his last 3 appearances vs San Jose Earthquakes (Major League Soccer).

San Jose Earthquakes vs Real Salt Lake Prediction & Best Picks

Our Prediction

Our prediction is goals at both ends, with San Jose edging a high-scoring game at PayPal Park. The projection barely separates the sides, 1.75 goals to 1.70. The betting odds tell the same story, with the hosts at +150 (Polymarket) carrying only the slimmest home lean. Salt Lake have the momentum, but losing Morgan Guilavogui to suspension strips out a player who has been directly involved in goals lately, and the Quakes have real punch at home against this opponent. Back the hosts to nick it, but treat the moneyline as a near coin flip. The goals are the stronger angle.

Best Picks

Over 2.5 in the Total Goals Over/Under market. Both sides carry goals into a game where the model projects a high-scoring afternoon. Total Goals Over/Under is the lead entry among our best picks. The projection lands at 3.45 total goals, and San Jose have hit at least 2 goals in 6 of the last 7 home games against Salt Lake in all competitions.

Yes in the Both Teams To Score market. Two attack-minded sides who both find the net regularly. Both Teams To Score fits everything above. The projection puts the Yes side at 67.55%, and neither defense is built to shut the door. Salt Lake struggle defending set pieces, which plays straight into a San Jose strength, while the visitors' wing play and appetite for shooting from distance should find a way through at the other end.

San Jose Earthquakes vs Real Salt Lake Same Game Parlay

This Same Game Parlay stacks three Preston Judd player props with Real Salt Lake to score over 1.5 goals.

Preston Judd To Be Shown A Card. Judd has been carded in 5 of his last 7 MLS appearances, and San Jose play an aggressive style that invites bookings.

Preston Judd Over 0.5 Player Shots On Target. He has hit the target in each of his last 7 MLS appearances, and he is the focal point of this attack.

Over 1.5 Total Away Goals (Real Salt Lake). Salt Lake love a through ball, and defending through-ball attacks is exactly where San Jose come unstuck.

Preston Judd Over 3.5 Player Shots. This is the stretch leg, cashing in 3 of his last 5 outings, but San Jose's cross-heavy style keeps feeding their center forward.

Make sure to get the best odds on your Same Game Parlay with Oddschecker's Exclusive Same Game Parlay Comparison Tool.

Same Game Parlay odds correct at time of publishing.

San Jose Earthquakes vs Real Salt Lake Talking Points

Bruce Arena was blunt on the eve of the game, saying San Jose are not positioned to be MLS Cup favorites right now but are getting better. Saturday is a fair test of that claim. The Quakes are back in the postseason for the first time since 2023, but with Timo Werner suspended, the attacking load falls squarely on Preston Judd and Eduard Löwen. Salt Lake are the in-form side, with their postseason place still not nailed down. NBA legend Gary Payton will also be at PayPal Park as honorary Siren operator to set the Halloween mood.

San Jose Earthquakes vs Real Salt Lake Predictions FAQs

When is the San Jose Earthquakes vs Real Salt Lake MLS game?

The game is on Saturday, October 31, 2026, with kickoff at 5:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM PT.

Where is San Jose Earthquakes vs Real Salt Lake being played?

The game is being played at PayPal Park.

Who is injured or suspended for San Jose Earthquakes vs Real Salt Lake?

Timo Werner is suspended for San Jose Earthquakes, and Morgan Guilavogui is suspended for Real Salt Lake.

What formations are predicted for San Jose Earthquakes vs Real Salt Lake?

San Jose Earthquakes are predicted to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, while Real Salt Lake are predicted to use a 3-4-2-1 formation.

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