FA Cup Preview: Domination Continues! Chengdu Rongcheng Has a Huge Advantage – Can Nantong Zhiyun Pull Off an Upset?

On the evening of July 16 at 19:35, a Chinese Super League (CSL) team clash will take place in the round of 16 of the FA Cup, with Chengdu Rongcheng hosting Nantong Zhiyun. Given that the latter is currently at the bottom of the league and still fighting to avoid relegation, it’s unlikely they will invest too much effort into the FA Cup.

Chengdu Rongcheng has performed well this season, securing 13 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses after 19 rounds of the CSL, currently ranking third on the table with 41 points, seven points ahead of Beijing Guoan. They are in the zone for AFC Champions League qualification through the league. However, Chengdu Rongcheng is eight points behind Shanghai Shenhua and ten points behind Shanghai Port, making it difficult to secure a spot in next season’s AFC Champions League through their league position.

Nantong Zhiyun narrowly avoided relegation last season, but this season has been even more challenging, with only three wins, five draws, and eleven losses after 19 rounds, totaling just 14 points and currently sitting at the bottom of the CSL table. However, Nantong Zhuyun is not without hope as they are only two points away from Meizhou Hakka, who are in 14th place.

Chengdu Rongcheng is the second-best attacking team among the top 16 in the CSL, scoring 45 goals in 19 matches, one goal more than Shanghai Shenhua and second only to league leaders Shanghai Port. While Chengdu Rongcheng’s average of 2.36 goals per game is impressive, there is still a significant gap between them and Shanghai Port, which has scored 59 goals in 19 rounds, averaging over three goals per match, leading the entire CSL.

Worth noting is Chengdu Rongcheng’s solid defensive performance, conceding only 18 goals in 19 rounds of the CSL, less than one goal per game, placing them third in the league, behind Shanghai Shenhua (eight conceded) and Shanghai Port (17 conceded). In other words, Chengdu Rongcheng is one of the top three teams in the CSL in terms of overall strength.

Nantong Zhuyun is in a more awkward position, having scored only 20 goals after 19 rounds, barely exceeding one goal per game, and only better than Meizhou Hakka (13 goals), Qingdao Hainiu (17 goals), and Shenzhen Xinpengcheng (18 goals).

They have conceded 36 goals, nearly two per game, fewer only than Cangzhou Mighty Lions (41 conceded) and Qingdao West Coast (40 conceded), indicating a relatively weak performance on both ends of the pitch.

In their last ten home games, Chengdu Rongcheng has won eight, drawn one, and lost one, with a win rate of 80%. Notably, they have won their last four home games, including a dominant 7-0 victory over Qingdao West Coast. Nantong Zhuyun has won three, drawn two, and lost five in their last ten away games, with a win rate of 30%, which is acceptable given their strength.

The teams have met six times previously, with Chengdu Rongcheng winning all encounters, scoring a total of eight goals while conceding just one, keeping five clean sheets, giving them a significant psychological advantage. Considering Nantong Zhuyun’s primary objective is to avoid relegation in the CSL, they may not dedicate much effort to the FA Cup. For Chengdu Rongcheng, with little chance of winning the CSL title or finishing in the top two, securing a direct spot in next season’s AFC Champions League or winning the FA Cup would be a good alternative.

Overall, Chengdu Rongcheng holds a greater advantage, and as long as they perform normally, it should not be a problem for them to defeat Nantong Zhuyun.

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