August 17 at 20:00, the 23rd round of the 2024 Chinese Super League kicks off, featuring a strong matchup where Shandong Taishan hosts Chengdu Rongcheng at home.
Shandong Taishan, who won the runner-up titles in both the Chinese Super League and the FA Cup last season, has experienced a sharp decline this season. After 23 matches, they stand fifth with 9 wins, 7 draws, and 7 losses, accumulating 34 points. Shandong Taishan is 29 points behind the league leader Shanghai Port, leaving only a slim theoretical chance for them to compete for the title.
Chengdu Rongcheng, on the other hand, has been performing steadily with 16 wins, 3 draws, and 4 losses in 23 games, placing third in the league table with 51 points. However, Chengdu Rongcheng also trails the league leaders by 12 points and lags behind Shanghai Shenhua by 7 points, making their title hopes slim as well. Due to Beijing Guoan’s 0-0 draw against Zhejiang Team in this round, Chengdu Rongcheng, with one fewer match played, has already secured a 9-point lead over the Imperial Guards, giving them a good chance to further secure a top-three position.
In the past 10 matches, Shandong Taishan has only managed 3 wins, 2 draws, and 5 losses, including a three-game losing streak in the Chinese Super League, where they lost consecutively to Henan Team, Shanghai Port, and Cangzhou Mighty Lions. However, four days ago in the AFC Champions League playoff, Shandong Taishan battled Bangkok United for 120 minutes, eventually advancing through a penalty shootout, which boosted their morale.
Chengdu Rongcheng has been in excellent form recently, winning 9 and drawing 1 in their last 10 matches, remaining unbeaten. The only draw was a 1-1 result against Wuhan Three Towns, while in the other 9 matches, they scored a total of 25 goals, averaging 2.78 goals per game. Especially in the last 3 matches, Chengdu Rongcheng scored 10 goals, including a 3-1 win over Zhejiang Team, a 4-0 victory over Changchun Yatai, and a 3-0 defeat of Shenzhen Xin Pucheng, showcasing impressive offensive and defensive capabilities.
Shandong Taishan has lost 5 out of their last 10 Chinese Super League matches, with a win rate of only 20%. In their last 10 home matches, they achieved 5 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses, with a win rate of just 50%, indicating there is still room for improvement.
Chengdu Rongcheng’s away performance is equally commendable, with 6 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses in their last 10 away matches. They have remained unbeaten in their last 7 away matches, with 5 wins and 2 draws. In their last two away matches, Chengdu Rongcheng scored 6 goals and conceded only 1, demonstrating fierce attacking power.
Shandong Taishan has faced Chengdu Rongcheng only 5 times before, with each team winning 2 matches and drawing once, neither gaining an advantage. In April 2024, during their first leg encounter, Chengdu Rongcheng lost 0-1 at home.
Notably, Shandong Taishan is currently grappling with serious injury issues. Crespo and Wu Xinghan missed pre-match training and are likely to be absent. Crespo has contributed 10 goals and 3 assists in 20 appearances across all competitions this season, directly participating in 13 goals, making him a key player in Shandong Taishan’s attack. His absence will inevitably deal a heavy blow to the already struggling Taishan, although Ze Ka participated in this training session and could make his debut.
All in all, Chengdu Rongcheng is undoubtedly in better form. Although Shandong Taishan is playing at home, they are affected by a congested schedule and injuries, likely preparing for a tough battle.
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