Taishan seems to have fallen into a quagmire of relaxation since the AFC Champions League knockout rounds, coupled with player rotation and injuries, the team's form has been in tatters. In the first seven rounds of the competition, they only 3 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses of the record hard to move forward, and the leader of the Shenhua 8 points difference, the journey to win the championship is full of thorns.
Luckily for them, they showed amazing athleticism at home with a 4-1 win over Cangzhou Lions, a solid dark horse. Fernando was the center of attention, not only delivering an assist but also scoring two solo goals, while the return of Kazaishvili and Li Yuanyi also contributed key goals.
Choi Kang-hee is more pleased that Wang Dalei, Liu Binbin, Zheng Zheng, Tong Lei and other injured players return one after another, Cressan, Wako, Fernando, Kazayishvili, Jadason and other main lineup is complete, a fierce competition is about to be staged.
The two teams have equal strength on the offensive end, and the key to victory may lie in the play of the core midfielders Kazayishvili and Romulo, whose form will directly affect the direction of the game.
The combination of strengths and recent performances makes Chengdu Rongcheng's chances of winning the marquee "derby" generally favorable, however, given that Chengdu Rongcheng has won five matches in a row, the pressure is on them. The showdown between the two Shanghai rivals may end in a draw, which is acceptable to coaches Seo Jung-won and Choi Kang-hee for both sides in the title race.
