Shanghai Port v Shenzhen

This is a meeting between two teams right in the middle of the table with Shanghai a point ahead of Shenzhen in ninth. Neither team has been able to generate any momentum.

Shanghai are usual title challengers and expect to improve after an underwhelming first stage though have taken just one point from the last two games. The return of Brazilian playmaker Oscar is starting to make a difference and he makes better use of possession. With no games for ten days, Shanghai should be better suited to the game as their pressing game should be used to stifle Shenzhen. After focusing on being solid in the first stage, there is better news going forward. New signing, Issa kallon made a substitute debut last week and the Sierra Leone winger added some much needed pace and should ensure more chances for the team’s main striker Cherif Ndiaye who started the season well with four goals then faded a little.

China’s top player Wu Lei is returning after his spell with Espanyol in Spain and the former Shanghai legend is in quarantine now but there is great excitement at his return. That will inspire the team and will also add competition for places. There is a sense that Shanghai’s quest to get into the top three starts now.

Shenzhen have performed reasonably well this season but have yet to play the very top teams. The team is reliant for goals on forwards Frank Acheampong and Gao Lin for goals and if these two are closely guarded, then the threat is limited.

And then there is the issue of unpaid salaries with players still owed money from last. It has been reported that 30 per cent of this has recently been paid but it means that morale and motivation in the team is perhaps not what it should be. With Shanghai determined and strengthening their squad, that should be enough.

---

---

Henan v Wuhan Three Towns

At some point, Wuhan have to stop winning and facing third place Henan may be a good place for that to happen. Wuhan are, however, simply unstoppable at the moment and are just bruising teams aside and looking comfortable and full of confidence. As has been mentioned many times, there is a varied goal threat with three foreign strikers.

In last week’s 5-1 demolition of Beijing, Marcao was just unplayable with four goals. The strength and the physicality of the Brazilian is just too much for defences to handle. He has scored 12 goals despite only starting every other game. He often comes off the bench as an impact substitute and with opposition tiring, he wreaks havoc. And if he doesn’t, there are plenty of other players who will cause problems. 

With a positive goal difference of plus 34 from 12 games, Wuhan have just conceded seven goals and work so hard in midfield and cause so many problems that other teams are unable to generate any attacking momentum.

Henan are having a good season but fell to a 1-0 defeat last week to Meizhou who showed how to play against them, sitting back, flooding the midfield and giving them no time or space. There was also the fact that Henan were reduced to ten men after just 11 minutes. As right-back Luo Xin was sent off for a reckless tackle. Playing with ten men in the heat for 80 minutes is not great preparation. And there are also concerns about the fitness of star striker Karanga.

There is the added problem that fans were expected to be in the stadium but that will now not happen. They will be missed against Wuhan.

---

18+ please gamble responsibly.

---

Back the Four and Five Star Selections as a Double on Betfair ⬇️

*Bet link only appears when accessing from mobile.

---

Haven’t got a Betfair account? You’re in luck…

Sign up to Betfair and get a full refund if your first bet loses. Grab an account through the offer below and place £20 on the Evens Chinese Super League Best Bets Double. Here are the two possible outcomes: