On July 17 at 8 PM, the 2024 FA Cup Round of 16 sees Shenzhen Xinpengcheng host defending champions Shanghai Shenhua at home. In terms of overall strength, recent competitive form, and match experience, Shanghai Shenhua holds the upper hand. Conversely, if Shenzhen Xinpengcheng can pull off an upset by eliminating Shanghai Shenhua, they will equal their best-ever performance in the FA Cup.
In the fourth round of the FA Cup, teams from the Chinese Super League (CSL) began to make their appearances. Shanghai Shenhua advanced to the Round of 16 with a 1-0 victory over Foshan Nan Shi thanks to Marele’s goal. Meanwhile, Shenzhen Xinpengcheng defeated Qingdao Hongshi 2-0, with goals from Garcia and Andrade, also securing a place in the Round of 16.
Throughout the season thus far, Shanghai Shenhua’s performances and competitive form have been impressive, remaining undefeated. They have recently won five matches in a row across all competitions: a 1-0 win against Foshan Nan Shi (FA Cup), a 3-0 victory over Meizhou Hakka (CSL), a 1-0 win against Qingdao West Coast (CSL), a 6-0 thrashing of Shandong Taishan (CSL), and a 3-2 victory over Changchun Yatai (CSL). Marele has been particularly outstanding lately, scoring in five out of six games he played in June, netting a total of eight goals.
Traveling to Shenzhen for the FA Cup, players such as Teixeira, Luis, Manafa, and Yu Hanchao did not make the trip. However, Fernandinho, who joined Shanghai Shenhua during the summer transfer window, is part of the traveling squad. In recent years, Shanghai Shenhua has been consistently strong in the FA Cup, reaching at least the semi-finals for three consecutive years and winning the title last season. Their away record is outstanding, with eight wins and two draws in ten away matches (including the FA Cup), giving them an away win rate of 80%. Notably, in Round 14 of this season’s CSL, Shanghai Shenhua visited Shenzhen Xinpengcheng and won 1-0, courtesy of Marele’s goal.
After achieving three consecutive victories in all competitions, Shenzhen Xinpengcheng’s form dipped, losing 0-3 to Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, drawing 1-1 with Cangzhou Lions, and playing out a goalless draw with Henan FC in their last three matches, failing to win in three straight games. Although playing at home, Shenzhen Xinpengcheng’s home record is less than ideal, with one win, three draws, and five losses in nine matches, giving them a home win rate of only 11%. Their attacking capabilities are somewhat limited, averaging 0.95 goals per game in this season’s CSL, making them the third-lowest scoring team in the league.
During the summer transfer window, Shenzhen Xinpengcheng removed Almenteros and Ortis from their roster and registered Tiago, a former CSL foreign player. While Tiago had previously excelled in the CSL, it remains uncertain whether he can integrate quickly into his new team and become an immediate contributor. Additionally, Shenzhen Xinpengcheng loaned Dai Weijun from Shanghai Shenhua, but there is a clause in the contract preventing him from playing in this match. Shenzhen Xinpengcheng’s predecessor was Sichuan Jiuniu, which reached the FA Cup quarterfinals twice before.
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