Guangzhou FC vs Shanghai Port

Jinzhou Stadium is the venue as Guangzhou FC and Shanghai Port go head-to-head in the latest installment of their long-standing rivalry in the Chinese Super League.

Guangzhou’s glory days now look like a remote memory, as the government’s decision to cut funds for foreign stars threatens to see them relegated from the Chinese Super League for the first time in 13 years. Coming into Matchday 9, the two-time AFC Champions League winners languish in the relegation zone with a mere three points to their name (W1, L7). Moreover, since a narrow 1-0 home triumph over Hebei in mid-June, Liu Zhiyu’s men have suffered three identical 2-1 defeats, highlighting their ongoing struggle. Shanghai’s upcoming visit could help ease the pressure on Guangzhou, as they’ve kept a clean sheet in their last two home league meetings (W1, D1).

On the other hand, visiting Shanghai Port have gone from strength to strength following a 2-1 loss away to table-topping Wuhan Three Towns, avoiding defeat in their last three league games (W2, D1). That decent spell of form includes a 2-1 home victory over Hebei last time out, meaning they could win back-to-back Chinese Super League fixtures for the second time this season. However, in order to achieve that, the visitors have to defy their patchy away form that has seen them alternate between wins (2) and losses (2) across their four league matches on hostile turf this term. Curiously, each result (win/loss) in that sequence witnessed the victor score precisely two goals.