At 19:35 on the evening of July 22, Matchday 24 of the Chinese Super League will see Cangzhou Mighty Lions host visiting side Shanghai Shenhua.
In their first 19 league games, Cangzhou Mighty Lions have a record of 4 wins, 5 draws, and 10 losses, accumulating only 17 points and ranking second from bottom in the league. The team is currently embroiled in a fierce relegation battle. It’s worth noting that even Shenzhen Kaisa, ranked 10th in the league, is only four points clear of the relegation zone, making this year’s relegation battle in the Chinese Super League particularly exciting.
In their ten home matches this season, Cangzhou Mighty Lions have won three, drawn two, and lost five, earning 11 home points which place them 9th in the standings. Clearly, the team’s home form is significantly better than their away form, and they hope to use their home performances to help them achieve survival. In these ten matches, the team has scored 12 goals and conceded 15, with a mediocre but steady performance at both ends of the pitch.
After consecutive 0-4 defeats in Rounds 16 and 17, the team has recently achieved two 1-1 draws against Shenzhen Kaisa and Wuhan Three Towns respectively, which has helped to restore some morale. In this crucial relegation fight, points against strong teams are crucial, and if Cangzhou Mighty Lions can hold out for a draw, it would be a satisfactory result. Notably, this match marks the debut of Li Xiaopeng as head coach of Cangzhou, and facing such an opponent in his first game presents a significant challenge to the renowned coach.
In their first 19 league games, Shanghai Shenhua have an undefeated record of 15 wins and 4 draws, accumulating 49 points and ranking second in the league. Shenhua’s performance this year has been outstanding, but unfortunately, their city rivals Port have performed even better. The gap between the two teams is now five points, with Port having played one more game, so the pressure on Shenhua is immense. If they cannot secure all three points, the point difference will increase by more than a single match, putting Shenhua in a very passive position.
In nine away matches this season, Shenhua have won seven and drawn two, scoring 14 goals and conceding only three. This team, known for its defensive counter-attacking style throughout Chinese Super League history, has shown a different side this season, excelling not only defensively but also offensively. However, Shenhua’s tendency to perform well against strong opponents but less so against weaker ones has raised concerns.
The team has won four consecutive matches in the league, but in their most recent match, they narrowly beat Changchun Yatai 3-2, which showed signs of fatigue. With a match against Beijing Guoan, who drew with them earlier this season, coming up in two rounds’ time, Shenhua not only need to win their next two matches but also stay healthy, which sets extremely high standards for the team. Their starting center-back Zhu Chenjie is currently injured and may not be fit for this match.
In the last ten encounters between the two teams, Shanghai Shenhua have six wins, two draws, and two losses. Both defeats occurred during the 2021-22 season when the team was in a deep slump. Now, Shenhua have regained their status as a strong team, while Cangzhou Mighty Lions have become a weak side, making the outcome of this match quite predictable.
>>For more predictions and analysis for this match, click >>>
