FA Cup Preview: Shanghai Shenhua Vow to Avenge the Loss of Their Unbeaten Record; Beijing Guoan Fight to Save Their Manager’s Job

On August 22, in the FA Cup quarterfinals, reigning champions Shanghai Shenhua will host Beijing Guoan at home. Shenhua is determined to avenge the defeat that broke their unbeaten record this season; while for Guoan, manager Suarez may lose his job if the team is eliminated from the FA Cup.

Shanghai Shenhua currently sits second in the Chinese Super League (CSL), having just overturned a 3-1 deficit against Shanghai Port, reducing the gap to two points. Meanwhile, Beijing Guoan occupies the fourth spot and recently drew 0-0 with Zhejiang FC in the CSL.

For Shanghai Shenhua, manager Slutske confirmed that Malele and Manafa are out due to injuries, and it’s unlikely that Amadou will play in the FA Cup. On the other hand, Beijing Guoan will see Mamadou and Ademilson return to the squad, despite Zhang Yuning and Li Ke receiving red cards and suspensions in the CSL, they can still participate in the FA Cup.

Shanghai Shenhua narrowly advanced past Foshan Nan Shi and Shenzhen Xin Pengcheng in the previous two rounds of the FA Cup, both away games, and have won five consecutive matches at home, scoring a total of 20 goals, averaging four goals per game.

Beijing Guoan has also played away in both previous rounds of the FA Cup, defeating Suzhou Dongwu and Wuxi Wu Gou consecutively, but their recent form in the CSL has been poor, with only one win in four matches. In their last eight away games, Guoan has achieved two wins, two draws, and four losses, with both victories coming in the FA Cup.

In the last ten encounters between the two teams, Shanghai Shenhua has two wins, two draws, and six losses, placing them at a disadvantage. In the last five meetings, Beijing Guoan has maintained an unbeaten record with three wins and two draws, including a win and a draw in the CSL this season, ending Shenhua’s unbeaten streak in early August. The last time these two sides met in the FA Cup was in 2017, when Shanghai Shenhua used their home advantage to beat Beijing Guoan 1-0.

This match sees Shanghai Shenhua at home, vowing to avenge the loss of their unbeaten record. For Guoan, the possibility of finishing in the top three of the league is almost gone, and to qualify for next season’s Asian tournaments, the FA Cup is their only path. Moreover, for manager Suarez, elimination from the FA Cup could mean losing his job, making this match a battle for his position.

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