At 8 PM on July 12, the 19th round of the Chinese Super League (CSL) will see Chengdu Rongcheng host Tianjin Jinmen Tiger at the Phoenix Mountain Stadium.
The Phoenix Mountain Stadium, known as a “gold medal match market” in the CSL, provides a significant home advantage for Chengdu Rongcheng. This season, Chengdu has secured 22 points from nine home league matches, averaging 2.89 goals per game, both ranking among the top three in the league. In their last three home games, Chengdu defeated Henan 4-2, Qingdao West Coast 7-0, and Cangzhou Lions 4-0, winning all three matches and scoring a total of 15 goals, demonstrating a powerful offensive display.
However, one issue for this match is that recent heavy rainfall and some entertainment events have left the Phoenix Mountain Stadium pitch in poor condition, which could affect the game. Both coaches expressed concern before the match, with Tianjin coach Yu Genwei particularly worried.
Tianjin Jinmen Tiger has been in decent form recently, remaining unbeaten with one win and three draws in the past four league and cup matches. Tianjin can be considered a “road dragon” in this season’s CSL, having secured 16 points from nine away league matches, ranking third in the away points table behind the two Shanghai teams. Additionally, they average 2.11 goals per away game, second-best in the league. Overall, Tianjin has a 55.6% away win rate compared to just an 11.1% home win rate, making them an anomaly with stronger away performance than at home.
In terms of head-to-head record, the headline of the Sichuan media preview is “Chengdu Rongcheng Unbeaten Against Tigers.” Since promotion to the CSL, Chengdu Rongcheng has faced Tianjin Jinmen Tiger five times, recording two wins and three draws, holding a clear advantage.
Regarding key players, the Sichuan media highlighted Chengdu’s captain Zhou Dinyang, a box-to-box midfielder who leads the CSL in distance covered. He has scored four goals and provided two assists this season, contributing significantly on both ends of the pitch. He was also the scorer of the only goal in the previous match. For Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, foreign defender Shkoric is suspended due to accumulated yellow cards, so the focus shifts to new Portuguese signing Hadadis. After joining in the summer window and making his CSL debut as a substitute in the previous match, he could play a more significant role in this game. The 26-year-old Hadadis, who has played in the Portuguese league for many years, is considered a high-profile foreign player in the CSL. It remains to be seen what changes he can bring to the team.
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