Nashville Sc vs Real Salt Lake Picks and Predictions April 12th 2025

RSL Leans on Diego Luna as Nashville Hopes for Zimmerman’s Return

As Real Salt Lake look to build consistency and Nashville SC waits on a key injury update, all eyes will be on Diego Luna and the potential return of Walker Zimmerman when the two Western Conference clubs meet Saturday night.

Nashville (3-3-1, 10 points) is coming off back-to-back 2-1 losses following a three-game winning streak, but their biggest concern this week is the health of veteran defender Zimmerman. The MLS mainstay suffered a scary head injury last weekend against Charlotte, taking an inadvertent boot to the head while trying to clear a cross.

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“It’s a day-to-day sequence that we’re following,”

– Nashville coach B.J. Callaghan on Zimmerman’s status after entering concussion protocol.

Zimmerman was carted off the field and later released from the hospital, but his availability remains uncertain. Without him, Nashville collapsed late against Charlotte, giving up goals in the 85th and 90th minutes after leading for most of the match.

“We have to take (the responsibility) and share it amongst the 20 (players) that get named for the match and continue forward,”

– Callaghan on stepping up in Zimmerman’s absence.

Meanwhile, Real Salt Lake (3-4-0, 9 points) snapped a two-game losing skid last weekend with a 2-0 win over LA Galaxy, thanks to a first-half brace from 21-year-old phenom Diego Luna. With three goals and two assists on the season, Luna has contributed to five of RSL’s seven total goals.

“I like when there’s stuff on the line and the team relies on me,”

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– Diego Luna on embracing his growing role with RSL.

Luna has yet to face Nashville, and RSL has not won consecutive matches this season. But the club’s defensive effort last week was a bright spot, as they held the Galaxy to just one shot on target in a much-needed clean sheet.

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RSL’s challenge will be breaking through Nashville’s traditionally tough defense—even without Zimmerman. Hany Mukhtar, Nashville’s star attacker, has two goals on the year but has never scored in three previous meetings with RSL.

Saturday’s showdown could come down to which young star shines brightest—Luna on the attack or Mukhtar trying to break the curse—and whether Nashville’s back line can hold firm if Zimmerman remains sidelined.