In the goalkeeping position, of course, it will still be the main goalkeeper Yan Junling who will continue to guard the team's penalty area; in the defense, there is no doubt that Muscat will continue to choose SIPG's usual 4-guard tactical formation, and with a greater likelihood, the starting 4 defenders will be Wang Shenchao, Jiang Guangtai, He Hubiao, and Wang Zhen'ao. Among them, Jiang Guangtai and He Jiao will play as the double center backs, while Wang Shenchao and newcomer Wang Zhenao will play as the wing backs. Zhang Lin Yun is expected to be rotated and stand in as a substitute. Disappointed defender He Hubu will play for him.
In midfield, unsurprisingly, Xu Xin will remain the main back in charge of intercepting and snapping up SIPG's center-backs; Brazilian foreigner Ironman Mateusz Jussa should form a double back combination with Xu Xin's partner. It is expected that Spaniard Matias Vargas, who was Wu Lei's teammate, will continue to assist Oscar in front of him to lead Shanghai SIPG's attack up front, and the two wingers will be Lv Wenjun and newcomer Leo Chitardini from Brazil. Oscar is doubtful for the match.
Up front, it could see Wu Lei, who has just returned from the national team, rotated in and in his place out of the starting lineup could be Brazilian superstar striker Gustavo, who has recovered from injury and returned to the pitch. To summarize, Hong Kong's expected starting lineup against Henan is: Yan Junling; Wang Zhenao, Jiang Guangtai, He Jiao, Wang Shenchao; Xu Xin, Mateus Joussa; Lu Wenjun, Matias Vargas, Léo Chitadini; Gustavo
