Chinese Super League Preview: Qingdao Haoniu Struggles in Relegation Battle, Aiming to Secure Points at Home While Shanghai Shenhua Must Win to Stay in Title Race Amidst Challenging Schedule

On September 28th, the 27th round of the Chinese Super League (CSL) will see Qingdao Haoniu host Shanghai Shenhua. Qingdao Haoniu has not beaten Shenhua for 12 years, but with the relegation battle heating up, they won’t miss the opportunity to secure points at home; meanwhile, Shenhua is amidst a tough schedule but must win to keep their title hopes alive.

After 26 rounds, Qingdao Haoniu has a record of 7 wins, 5 draws, and 14 losses, placing them 13th in the league table with only a 3-point advantage over the relegation zone, still facing the threat of relegation. In their previous 13 home games, Qingdao Haoniu secured 5 wins, 3 draws, and 5 losses, ranking 10th in home performance, scoring 18 goals and conceding 22 at home.

Shanghai Shenhua sits second in the league table, trailing the leader by 2 points, with only one loss, which was away to Beijing Guoan. They have 10 wins and 2 draws from 12 away matches, scoring 26 goals and conceding just 8, making them the best defensive team in the league.

Qingdao Haoniu’s defender Liu Jiashen received a red card in the last game and will be suspended for this match, but all five foreign players are available, including Kanggua who scored from a penalty last round. For Shenhua, Zhu Chenjie remains sidelined due to injury, but Teixeira, who missed the midweek FA Cup semi-final, is expected to return.

Qingdao Haoniu has drawn 1 and lost 1 in their last 2 games, and in their last 8 games, they’ve only won 2, drawn 2, and lost 4, bringing them closer to the relegation zone. However, they’ve won 3 and lost 1 in their last 4 home games, showing typical home dominance.

Shanghai Shenhua lost their midweek FA Cup semi-final, ending their 6-game winning streak across all competitions. All of Shenhua’s losses this season have been away, including the FA Cup defeat to Port and a CSL away loss to Guoan. Under the pressure of multiple fronts, Shenhua has lost 2 out of their last 3 away games, showing a decline in away form.

In their last 10 meetings, Qingdao Haoniu has only managed 1 win, 1 draw, and 8 losses against Shenhua, with their last victory coming back in 2012. In the last 7 encounters, Haoniu has lost all. Since returning to the CSL in the 2023 season, Haoniu has lost all 4 matches (including the FA Cup) against Shenhua without scoring a single goal.

Qingdao Haoniu failed to win either of their two games in September, especially losing a crucial relegation battle to Nantong Zhiyun, making their survival situation precarious. Playing at home, they aim to secure points or even a win. Shanghai Shenhua, amidst a tough multi-front schedule, cannot afford any slip-ups in the CSL after being knocked out of the FA Cup, with winning as their sole objective.

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