Austin FC vs. Real Salt Lake: Our MLS prediction and preview are in

The show goes on for Austin FC, whether it’s in the playoff hunt or not.

Though the Verde & Black are not mathematically eliminated as they enter Saturday’s home match vs. Real Salt Lake, a farfetched set of circumstances would have to come to fruition for them to find themselves playing in the postseason.

But regardless of Austin FC's position in the standings, it still has to play out the schedule. Here’s what you need to know about the matchup as the Verde & Black (9-13-8, 35 points, 11th West) will try to win a league match for just the second time in nine tries.

Dream on, dream away (apologies to Color Me Badd)

If you want to dream, here’s what Austin FC needs to happen to have any shot at being in the Western Conference play-in game between the eighth and ninth seeds.

First, it needs to start winning games, which is something it hasn’t done much of lately. Since a 2-1 home win over New York City FC on July 6, the Verde & Black have won only once in league play. (If you’re looking for a reason Austin FC coach Josh Wolff is on the hot seat, this is it.)

Austin FC will probably have to sweep its final four matches to get into the postseason, and it will have to do so against all odds, considering it will face the top three teams in the West: the Los Angeles Galaxy, Real Salt Lake and Colorado. (Eighth-place Portland is the other opponent.)

To do that, it will have to score goals, which is also something it hasn’t done much of lately. Since that victory over NYCFC, the Verde & Black have scored more than one goal in MLS play just twice.

Austin FC also needs Minnesota, which is in ninth place, to collapse. It’s seven points behind the Loons and will require help from Minnesota’s opponents, starting with Colorado on Saturday.

Oh, and it also has to leapfrog Dallas, which is two points ahead.

Quality play needs to continue

From purely a quality of play standpoint, Austin FC did well in its recent three-game stretch vs. Toronto, LAFC and Houston. However, that's also the stretch that will be pointed to if the club misses the playoffs as it gathered only one point.

The Verde & Black will need to keep that level against Real Salt Lake, which is in second place in the West and features MLS’ second-leading scorer, Cristian Arango. Expect Wolff to keep the recent formation he’s been using with five players on the backline. As he did against LAFC, he needs to use his top offensive personnel , which means having Jáder Obrian on the field with Sebastián Driussi, Dani Pereira, Alex Ring, Jon Gallagher and Osman Bukari.

In its current situation, the club can’t think about the two games that will follow in the next seven days. It can only worry about Saturday, and that means not using forward Gyasi Zardes as anything other than a second-half sub.

A glance at Real Salt Lake

Arango, a forward who's in the running for league MVP with 17 goals and 12 assists, hasn’t played the past two games. If he plays Saturday, containing him will be key, though Real Salt Lake has plenty of other talent, including stellar midfielder Diego Luna.

Real Salt Lake has given up nine goals in its last three contests. One goal isn’t likely to produce a win for Austin FC, so scoring early and putting the pressure on the visitors will be important and might open up the game.

Austin FC's predicted lineup

Forward: Osman Bukari, Sebastián Driussi, Jáder Obrian

Midfield: Alex Ring, Dani Pereira

Defense: Jon Gallagher, Guilherme Biro, Brendan Hines-Ike, Julio Cascante, Mikkel Desler

Goalkeeper: Brad Stuver

Austin FC vs. Real Salt Lake prediction

Real Salt Lake 2, Austin FC 1: The Verde & Black have had trouble scoring for most of the season. They need to show a finishing touch before I pick them to beat one of the best teams in the West.

Saturday's match

Real Salt Lake (14-7-9, 51 points) at Austin FC (9-13-8, 35 points), 7:30 p.m., Q2 Stadium, Apple TV, 97.5, 104.3 (Spanish)

How to watch, listen to Austin FC vs. Real Salt Lake

What: Austin FC (9-13-8, 35 points, 11th West) vs. Real Salt Lake (14-7-9, 51 points, second West)

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Q2 Stadium

How to watch, listen: Apple TV, 97.5 FM, 104.3 FM (Spanish)

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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin FC vs. Real Salt Lake: Our MLS prediction and preview are in