Real Salt Lake Vs. Rapids Preview: Rocky Mountain Cup Is Clinched For RSL, So Colorado Plays For Pride

The Colorado Rapids have dropped four of their last five matches at home, and at 7-14-1 overall they can't even think about the playoffs anymore. Meanwhile, Real Salt Lake owns an impressive 13-7-3 record and is thinking about improving their playoff positioning with every next match. In a way it's fitting that Real Salt Lake claimed the Rocky Mountain Cup before the Rapids even hosted a match in the series. At this point Colorado is playing for pride, so it will be interesting to see how they fare against RSL on Saturday.

As for keys to the match, the staff at Burgundy Wave thinks the Rapids need to slow things down to have the best chance at an upset:

Part of the problem in their last game against Salt Lake was that Colorado seemed to be trying too hard to make something happen as soon as any player got the ball. Attacking plays were rushed, passes were made in a panic at times and shots weren't on target because they were taken right as they got to people's feet in the box. The Rapids need to slow the game down, to a snail's pace if needed, so that they can make their plays more cohesively with each other.

Game time/date: 7:00 p.m. MT, Saturday, August 4

Location: Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Denver, CO

TV: Altitude

Radio: FM 93.7, AM 1510; FM 87.7

For more news and notes, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. More news on the Colorado Rapids can be found over at Burgundy Wave. For comprehensive soccer coverage, visit SB Nation's soccer news hub.