Real Salt Lake head coach Pablo Mastroeni has hailed the impact of the more experienced players in his squad as they prepare to face Atlanta United on Saturday.

After a 1-0 defeat to the Vancouver Whitecaps in their 2026 MLS opener, RSL bounced back with a 2-1 victory over the Seattle Sounders last weekend.

Three RSL players aged 18 or younger contributed to a goal in the club's win over the Sounders (Aiden Hezarkhani – 18, Zavier Gozo – 18, Luca Moisa – 17).

Since the start of last season, players aged 18 or younger have recorded 10 goal contributions for RSL, more than any other MLS team.

Despite the strong impact of the younger players, Mastroeni believes their more experienced stars help lay the foundation at RSL.

"I think there's a lot of credit that goes to the guys that are around these [younger] guys," said Mastroeni.

"As an ex-experienced player, sometimes it was really easy to make excuses as to why we weren't playing well. To point the finger at the younger guys.

"But a lot of credit has to go to guys like Justin Glad and Rafael Cabral, and everyone else who surrounds these guys.

"They are the ones that look after them [the younger players]. They are the ones that guide them when the bullets are flying.

"[I'm] just really pleased as to how we are doing, which is winning together through development."

Atlanta, meanwhile, are one of just two teams in MLS, along with CF Montreal, to lose both of their opening two games in 2026 without scoring.

The Five Stripes lost 2-0 to both FC Cincinnati and the San Jose Earthquakes, leaving them 14th in the Eastern Conference.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Atlanta United – Miguel Almiron

Twelve of Almiron's 13 goal contributions (92.3%) in 2025 came at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (six goals, six assists).

For his career, 71% (44/62) of Almiron's regular-season MLS goal contributions have come at home, fourth highest among players with 60 or more goal contributions in MLS history.

Almiron has also provided the winning assist in each of his two matches against RSL (in 2017 and 2018).

Real Salt Lake – Zavier Gozo

Along with registering an assist against Seattle, 18-year-old Gozo led RSL in shots (five), chances created (three), duels won (nine), and tackles attempted (five).

MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW

The last four meetings between Atlanta United and Real Salt Lake have been won by the home team, with the only road victory in the series a 3-1 win for the Five Stripes in 2017.

Atlanta have won their home opener in each of the last six MLS seasons, dating back to 2020, tied for the second-longest winning streak in home openers in MLS history. Only Los Angeles FC (nine straight from 2018-26) have ever recorded a longer streak.

RSL have managed only one win in their last 14 away matches (D4 L9), including losing six of their last seven away from home (D1).

RSL's lone win in those 14 matches, a 1-0 victory at Portland, was their only away clean sheet at an MLS team since the start of last season.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Atlanta United – 36.7%

Draw – 26.2%

Real Salt Lake – 37.1%