Paxten Aaronson vs. Diego Luna: Rocky Mountain Cup rivalry heats up

The 2026 Rocky Mountain Cup is set to be awarded when the Colorado Rapids host rivals Real Salt Lake for Matchday 23’s Walmart Saturday Showdown.

• 7th in Western Conference
• 28 points (9W-11L-1D)

The Rapids saw their three-game win streak snapped on Saturday night with a 3-0 loss at San Diego FC.

Perhaps hosting their biggest rival at home is the perfect setting to bounce back.

• Rafael Navarro: Colorado’s leading goalscorer with 10g/4a, Navarro has hit double-digit goal tallies in each of his three full MLS seasons.
• Paxten Aaronson: Aaronson (4g/6a) paces the Rapids in assists and is enjoying the best MLS season of his career after returning from Europe in 2025.
• Loïc Williams: A summer arrival from Granada in Spain, Williams has played every minute of his first six MLS games, including scoring on his debut.
• Hamzat Ojediran: Simultaneously a ball-winner and metronome in possession for the Rapids, Ojediran has been a key cog in midfield during his first MLS season.

Colorado has been on a tear at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park since the FIFA World Cup break, recording four consecutive victories without conceding a single goal.

All this while bidding farewell to 18-year-old Australian center back Lucas Herrington in a club-record transfer to English Premier League side Hull City (reportedly up to $23m) – the largest fee ever paid for an outgoing MLS defender.

That form has seen them climb above RSL in the Western Conference table courtesy of the wins tiebreaker, while tied on 28 points apiece. Current holders of the Rocky Mountain Cup, the Rapids will aim to retain their title with a fifth straight home victory on Saturday.

• 8th in Western Conference
• 28 points (8W-8L-4D)

Real Salt Lake were eliminated from Leagues Cup 2026 on Tuesday night with a 3-0 quarterfinal loss to Club León at Colorado’s Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

The setback extended RSL’s three-game skid across all competitions following one-goal defeats against FC Dallas and Orlando City in league play.

• Diego Luna: A USMNT cult hero, “Moon Man” is at the heart of everything for the Claret-and-Cobalt, recording 5g/6a thus far this season.
• Sergi Solans: RSL’s leading goalscorer (9g/3a) in his rookie season – including a goal in each of his last four league games – Solans‘ breakout status earned him a recent contract extension in Utah.
• Juan Manuel Sanabria: The Uruguay international represented his country at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Sanabria has been a revelation with 1g/6a in his first MLS season.
• Morgan Guilavogui: A fellow offseason arrival, the striker has shown his ability to be more than just a goalscorer, leading the team in assists with seven assists.

Returning to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park after their midweek Leagues Cup exit, Real Salt Lake will be aiming to right the ship by leapfrogging their rivals in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs race.

They’ll have to do so without Zavier Gozo, who recently made the move to UEFA Conference League champions Crystal Palace in the English Premier League via a club-record $15 million transfer fee.

Victors in the club’s previous meeting this season, a 2-1 home win, RSL also seek to reclaim the Rocky Mountain Cup title for the first time since 2023 with a win on Saturday. The Claret-and-Cobalt hold a 14-7 advantage all-time in the rivalry.

Colorado have 48% of the market, compared to 28% for arch-rivals RSL. Meanwhile, a draw (25%) is also on the table.

Market insights shared are current as of Thursday, Aug. 27 at 10 am ET.