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Sandy • Major League Soccer's arguably best attacking player, Sebastian Giovinco has everything in his skillset, and he regularly puts the entirety of his tantalizing skill set on display against his opponents.

Welcome to the new year, Real Salt Lake.

Your first test: Try to slow the 5-foot-4 Italian goal-scorer who carries not only an imposing arsenal of attacking tricks, but also a world-class nickname in "The Atomic Ant."

The Toronto FC midfielder/forward announced himself to MLS in 2015 and has kept his name atop the conversation for MVP ever since. The 30-year-old has 43 goals and 35 assists across regular season and postseason play in 68 games.

"If he was on my team," RSL right back Tony Beltran said, "he could do whatever he wants. He wins games on his own. He really does. And there's very few players in this league that can do that, that can score goals on their own and really change a game. But he has that talent."

It's exhibited regularly. MLS doesn't crack the "SportsCenter" Top 10 often, but when it does, place odds that it's involving Giovinco, and your payout is likely to make you smile. He's already been labeled as one of, if not the best, foreign signing in league history. Some league pundits already have declared Giovinco the best player ever to lace up the boots in MLS.

"He is a fantastic player, arguably one of the best the league has ever had," RSL coach Jeff Cassar said. "He can get you several different ways. He can give the killer pass, shoot from distance, he's lethal on free kicks. It doesn't take one player to shut him down."

It takes 11 players to corral Giovinco. Not a back line of four or a couple of holding midfielders barreling through the center of the pitch — 11. Just ask RSL captain Kyle Beckerman. The best way to keep Giovinco from having his say is doing your best to keep the ball for as long as possible.

"Your best defense is offense," Beckerman said. "It'll be limiting his touches as best we can, and really that comes down to getting close and tight to the balls trying to come into him. If we can limit those, that'll help us. But we know how dangerous he is. He only needs a few touches to be really dangerous and really change a game."

Beckerman wasn't spotting Giovinco, either. A few touches from inside the attacking half is enough. The Italian took three touches — his second a killer cut-back with his left foot — before drilling a left-footed shot from distance into the top corner in a preseason match last week. Giovinco, often deployed as a wide forward or an attacking midfielder, will command multiple eyes on Saturday.

"Obviously wherever he is on the field, we have to be extremely mindful," Cassar said. "We want to make him have to find the ball. If he finds the ball where he wants to, it's going to be a long night. So we have to make sure we clog up those areas."

RSL has seen Giovinco twice since he took MLS by storm two seasons ago. In those two outings, he registered an assist in RSL's 1-0 loss in Toronto last August, but RSL has kept him out of the net for 180 minutes thus far, which is better than most clubs can say.

"We can't let him breathe," Beltran said. "You can't give him any space, you can't give him any time, and when you do, when he does find time, you've got to foul him. You've got to stop the play. We've got to be mentally tuned-in 90 minutes."

Just find "The Ant." Or try to.

Twitter: @chriskamrani —

Toronto FC at Real Salt Lake

P At Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy

Kickoff • 2:30 p.m. Saturday

TV • KMYU

Radio • 700 AM

Records • RSL 0-0-0, Toronto FC 0-0-0

Last meeting • Toronto FC 1, RSL 0 (Aug. 3, 2016 at BMO Field)

About Toronto • TFC features one of the premier frontlines in MLS with Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore. … The two combined for 27 goals and 20 assists in 2016. … Former RSL midfielder Will Johnson left TFC and signed with Orlando City as a free agent this offseason. … New French defender Chris Mavinga will not be with the team, per coach Greg Vanney. … Midfield signing Victor Vazquez is expected to join the team in Utah.

About RSL • New attacking midfielder Albert Rusnák is expected to make his debut Saturday. … Captain Kyle Beckerman (knee) is expected to play after missing all of preseason. … This is the first time since 2008 that RSL has opened an MLS season at home. … RSL forward Joao Plata received a multiyear contract extension Monday where he'll be the club's third DP. … The four first-teamers with the U.S. U-20 national team are expected to re-join the team next week. ... Just under 2,000 tickets were still available for the opener as of Friday afternoon.