The Chinese Super League returns with round No 13 in midweek. Shanghai Port and Shanghai Shenhua are the pacesetters this season.
Shenhua are four points behind their city rivals going into the round. Meanwhile, down the standings, Qingdao Hainiu will try to stop a four-game losing streak.
Shanghai Shenhua and Nantong Zhiyun have not played since 2018 in the Chinese Cup. There is no recent history between the sides going into the match. Shenhua are attempting a third straight CSL win.
Nantong Zhiyun are 14th in the 16-team league. They took just nine points from 12 games. A mere four points were taken by Nantong Zhiyun in their last six matches.
Shenhua are on a two-game winning streak. They picked up three wins and three draws in six home matches this term. No CSL team has conceded fewer goals than Shenhua’s seven.
Qingdao Hainiu posted a record of 4W-2D-0L against Tianjun Jinmen Tiger in their last six encounters. Hainiu need points desperately, as they find themselves 15th in the league.
Tianjin Jinmen Tiger are fourth in the standings and nine points off Shanghai Port. They went unbeaten in their last six games, taking 10 points from 18 points on offer. Tiger conceded the second-fewest goals across the opening 12 fixtures with nine.
Qingdao Hainiu are on a four-game losing streak in the CSL. They picked up just one point from six games away from home in 2023.
Wuhan Three Towns did the league double over Dalian Pro last season by a combined score of 6-1. They blasted Dalian at home 4-0.
Dalian Pro are bottom of the CSL table. They failed to win any of their last 11 games in the league. Dalian did manage a 2-2 draw with Beijing Guoan last time out.
Wuhan Three Towns are eighth in the standings. They drew their last two games in CSL play. Wuhan Three Towns’ last two games finished with both teams scoring.
Zhejiang are on a four-game unbeaten streak against Meizhou Hakka in all competitions. They kept clean sheets in their last two meetings with Meizhou Hakka.
Meizhou Hakka are on a three-game losing streak in the CSL. They took just one point from their last six games in the division. Meizhou Hakka conceded the second-most goals after 13 games, with 21.
Zhejiang are unbeaten in their last five fixtures. They took 11 points from the last 15 points available. Zhejiang have struggled to keep teams from scoring. They conceded 18 times in 12 games.