HERRIMAN, Utah – El Paso Locomotive FC will head to face to Real Monarchs SLC on Friday night at Zions Bank Stadium looking to not only build on its comeback victory last time out but also with a chance to pull level on points with current Mountain Division leader Rio Grande Valley FC. Kickoff is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET.

@RealMonarchs (2-6-4, 10pts) returns home looking to bounce back from a 3-1 defeat last Sunday night against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at Weidner Field that saw the visitors find chances but ultimately unable to contain the Switchbacks’ strong attack led by league-leading scorer Hadji Barry. The Monarchs key area of concern has been in the defensive end, where they have recorded only one shutout in 12 games this season while conceding 18 goals, tied for sixth-most in the Championship. Real’s attack has also had difficulty finding consistency as well, with Milan Iloski leading the side with three goals. The side has also yet to defeat El Paso in a regular-season contest in its history, going 0-5-2 in prior meetings with the lone win in the Monarchs’ favor having come when the sides met in the Western Conference Final of the 2019 USL Championship Playoffs on the way to the club’s title that season.

@EPLocomotiveFC (5-1-3, 18pts) remained undefeated at home this past Saturday night as a pair of goals by Dylan Mares earned the side a 2-1 victory against regional rival New Mexico United. Mares was voted the Championship’s Player of the Week on Tuesday for his performance, which saw the playmaker notch his first two goals of the campaign. The game also saw the return to action for Locomotive FC of attacking midfielder Sebastian Velasquez, who came on as a second-half substitute, and now Velasquez will have a chance to face another of his former clubs in the Monarchs, with whom he claimed the 2017 USL Championship regular season title. Friday’s game will be the second meeting between El Paso and Real this season, with Locomotive FC having taken a 2-1 win when the sides met on June 18 through goals by Josue Aaron Gomez and Macauley King. Sitting three points behind the Toros after their draw on Wednesday with Austin Bold FC, El Paso would move level with RGVFC with a win while still holding games in hand on its Copa Tejas rival.

FiveThirtyEight.com Match Predictor: Real Monarchs SLC 27%, El Paso Locomotive FC 44%, Draw 29%

Most Recent Lineups

Real Monarchs SLC (4-4-2): Jeffrey Dewsnup; Noah Powder, Kyle Adams, Kevin Saucedo, Daniel Flores; Douglas Martinez, Sam Brown, Ibrahim Bance, Malik Johnson; Milan Iloski, Aris Briggs

El Paso Locomotive FC (4-3-1-2): Logan Ketterer; Macauley King, Matt Bahner, Yuma, Eder Borelli; Nick Ross, Richie Ryan, Bryam Rebellon; Diego Luna; Dylan Mares, Luis Solignac

Discipline

Real Monarchs SLC – None

El Paso Locomotive FC – None