The Chinese Super League continues this week with Shanghai Shenhua travelling to the Langfang Stadium to meet with a Hebei side who have been struggling tremendously in the first three games of the campaign.
It’s been a disastrous beginning to the new season for Hebei, as they now sit bottom of the table with three wins on the spin.
Up first was the visit of Wuhan Three Towns, and a torrid 4-0 loss came their way as the club registered their worst-ever opening home game of a Chinese Super League season. Hebei then travelled to Wuhan Zall, and a 2-1 loss continued their losing run.
Kim Jong-boo's men were expected to put up a fight when they hosted Shanghai Port just a few days later, however, and another disastrous 2-0 defeat would happen to leave them rock bottom of the table with no points and the worst goals difference in the league after just three games.
As there’s only been three games, however, Hebei could leap up to as high as 13th in the table with a win here and other results going their way, so it’s not the end of the world just yet.
On the other hand, another defeat would be one of the club’s worst-ever starts to a new season, and they must start scoring goals at the very least with only one in three games so far and a torrid eight conceded.
Hebei did manage to finish in the Championship round in the Chinese Super League last season, but despite beating score to get past the Relegation table, they still only scored 15 goals and let in an alarming 28 across the 22 games in the Championship phase, as they finished an almighty 19 points adrift of the AFC Champions League qualifiers spot.
As for Shenhua, times have been different for them so far after a few games in the season, as they sit unbeaten in China's first division with them winning twice and drawing the other game.
On the other hand, they've managed to score just four goals, but have only let in one so far when they drew with the league's top scorers, Wuhan Three Towns.
It’s hard to favour Hebei at all right now with their form so bad. On the other hand, Shenhua seem to be putting up yet another fight for the title right now. Forebet predicts the game to see over 2.5 goals, with Shenhua set to get another win here.