Real Salt Lake will compete in the Concacaf Champions Cup for the first time since 2016
Real Salt Lake is preparing for their Concacaf Champions Cup for the fourth time in the club’s history. Head Coach Pablo Masteroni has got his side ready to go. What is the realistic expectation for the Claret and Cobalt this time around?
Real Salt Lake has a pretty good history in the Concacaf Champions Cup. The club’s first appearance in the 2010-11 season ended in heartbreak in the final. RSL fell to Mexican side Monterrey 2-0 on the road before falling 1-0 in Utah. RSL would become the first MLS club to reach the final, making history for the entire United States.
RSL would return in the 2012-13 tournament, falling in the group stage with 7 points, just short of the group leader, Herediano. With only one club qualifying for the knockout stages, RSL would taste the bitter taste of defeat early. The Claret and Cobalt would have one more chance in the 2015-16 cup, winning their group before being eliminated 3-1 in aggregate to Mexico’s Tigres UANL.
Real Salt Lake has not been to the Champions Cup since that 2016 tournament, and a lot has changed. Pablo Masteroni is now in charge, Joao Plata and Nick Rimando have moved on, and the club is now under the care of David Blitzer and Ryan Smith. The club is headed in a good direction and the Claret and Cobalt are ready for whatever comes next.
Boasting an all-time record of 11 wins, 6 draws, and 5 losses, the club knows how to handle the heat. RSL has scored 34 goals while conceding 22. RSL has been a strong force in the Champions Cup and could do it again.
Real Salt Lake 2025 Tournament Expectations
This year, RSL is coming off a club-record 59-point season, which was highlighted by a 15-match unbeaten streak. Expectations are high and RSL has proven they can handle adversity. The Claret and Cobalt can make a deep run in the Concacaf Champions Cup if they work for it. Even though there are a lot of new faces the philosophy remains the same: Work as a team and fight fearlessly.
I expect RSL to make it to the quarterfinal at least. If RSL can advance past the first round, there is a good chance they could beat the LA Galaxy and possibly make it further. The new faces could either help or hinder RSL and balancing Cup competition with the MLS regular season won’t be easy. This team has potential and it is only a matter of time before they unlock it.
