At 8 PM on July 26, in Round 20 of the Chinese Super League (CSL), Shenzhen New Pengcheng will host Beijing FC at the Bao’an Sports Center. According to weather forecasts, affected by a typhoon, this match will be played in rainy conditions.
Shenzhen New Pengcheng currently sits 10th in the league, while Beijing FC is ranked 4th. There is a 16-point difference between the two teams and a goal difference disparity of 28, indicating a clear gap in their standings and strength. However, Shenzhen’s strength and positioning are undergoing changes, primarily due to reinforcements brought in after the transfer window opened.
Recently, Shenzhen signed international player Karel Zvelev from Israel, Brazilian forward Thiago, and Dai Weijun, who has been dubbed the “CSL’s top signing.” In the previous match against Changchun Yatai, all three newcomers contributed to the victory. With these reinforcements, Shenzhen has seen an improvement in both its hard power and the morale of its players. They have secured five points from one win and two draws in their last three rounds, climbing up the rankings. Additionally, they held strong opponents Shanghai Shenhua to a 0-0 draw in the FA Cup (despite losing in the penalty shootout), extending their unbeaten streak in regular time to four games.
Beijing FC has recently shown a rebound in form, eliminating Wuxi Wugou in the FA Cup and defeating Tianjin Jinmen Tiger 2-0 in the previous league match. However, their away form has been less impressive; in the league, they have one draw and three losses in their last four away matches, a significant drop compared to their first six away games (four wins and two draws). This is an issue the team needs to address urgently. Before the game, the capital’s media highlighted that although the temperature in Shenzhen (31-33 degrees Celsius) appears similar to Beijing, the high humidity in the south poses a challenge distinct from the north, presenting a problem for Beijing FC.
In terms of head-to-head records, this match carries a sense of “revenge” for Beijing FC. The two teams faced each other twice before: once in the 2021 FA Cup in October, where Beijing drew 1-1 with Shenzhen but lost in the subsequent penalty shootout; and in the first round of this season, where Beijing lost 1-2 to Shenzhen. The current Beijing coach is also injured (having suffered a fracture during training when accidentally hit by Lin Liangming), but he passionately rallied his team before the game: “We need to learn from our defeats; we only want the three points in this match.”
In terms of players, southern media emphasized that Dai Weijun is a key figure for Shenzhen. Since the summer transfer window, Shenzhen has undergone significant squad changes, making Dai Weijun’s role in linking play particularly important. Pre-match training revealed that Beijing coach Suárez’s targeted tactic was to “contain Dai Weijun.” On Beijing’s side, Zhang Xizhe and Ademilson were absent due to injury and did not travel to Shenzhen. The focus shifted to Zhang Yuan, who replaced the injured Zhang Xizhe. Initially doubted to be a weak point, Zhang Yuan scored his first goal for Beijing in the previous match, turning out to be a pleasant surprise.
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