Taishan may have been too relaxed after being eliminated from the AFC Champions League, and coupled with changes in personnel and injuries, the team is in a slump. With only 3 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses in their first 7 matches, they are now a full 8 points behind leaders Shenhua, and the road to the title is full of difficulties.
They were fortunate to have beaten a strong dark horse team, Cangzhou Lions, 4-1 in their previous home game in a very impressive performance. Fernando was particularly eye-catching, assisting once and firing in two goals, while Kazayishvili and the returning Li Yuanyi both scored.
What makes Choi Kang-hee even happier is that one by one, Wang Dalei, Liu Binbin, Zheng Zheng and Tong Lei are recovering from their injuries. With starters such as Cressan, Wako, Fernando, Kazaishvili and Jadason all available, a fierce battle could eventually be dished out.
The two teams are equally strong in attack, and the key lies in the play of the two central midfielders, Kazaishvili and Romulo, whose good or bad performance may directly determine the outcome of the game.
Based on their overall strengths and recent performances, Chengdu Rongcheng is generally considered to have the edge in this highly anticipated "derby" match. However, Chengdu Rongcheng may be under more pressure considering they have won five straight matches. The matchup between the two Shanghai powerhouses could end in a draw, which both Seo Jung-won and Choi Kang-hee are comfortable with in terms of their title rivalry.
