Preview of the Chinese Super League: Henan Aims to Halt Losing Streak; Felipe of Chengdu Rongcheng Scores in Consecutive Games

At 19:35 on September 21, the 26th round of the 2024 Chinese Super League will see Henan host Chengdu Rongcheng. In this match, Wei Shihao will return from suspension, which is undoubtedly good news for Chengdu Rongcheng. Facing a Chengdu Rongcheng team that excels in both attack and defense, it will be no easy task for Henan to halt their losing streak despite having home advantage.

In the first 25 rounds of the league, Henan achieved 8 wins, 7 draws, and 10 losses, accumulating 31 points to rank 8th in the standings. However, Henan’s recent form has been poor with three consecutive losses across all competitions, including a 0-2 defeat to Cangzhou Mighty Lions (Chinese Super League), a 1-3 loss to Shandong Taishan (FA Cup quarter-finals), and a 0-1 defeat against Tianjin Jinmen Tigers. This season, Henan has won 5, drawn 2, and lost 6 at home in the Chinese Super League, with a home win rate of 38%; in the last 10 home games, Henan did not draw any matches but won 5 and lost 5.

Henan’s recent losing streak is largely due to their poor offensive performance, scoring only one goal in the last three games. For Henan, if they cannot promptly address their offensive issues, it will be difficult to leave this game unscathed. Henan has scored a total of 30 goals in the league so far, with 12 of those coming in the final 15 minutes of matches, more than their total number of goals in the first half. This shows that Henan possesses great resilience and late-game strength. According to Nan Ji-yi before the game, “The injury situation within the team has improved.”

In terms of historical head-to-head records, Henan is at a disadvantage, having only managed 2 draws and 3 losses in the last 5 encounters with Chengdu Rongcheng, failing to secure a single victory. In the first leg of this season, Henan lost 2-4 to Chengdu Rongcheng.

Chengdu Rongcheng achieved 16 wins, 4 draws, and 5 losses in the first 25 rounds of the league, accumulating 52 points to rank 3rd in the standings. During this period, Chengdu Rongcheng averaged 2.32 goals per game and conceded just 1 goal per game, making them the third-highest scoring team and the third-best defensive team in the league, with commendable performances on both ends of the pitch. Chengdu Rongcheng’s recent form has been stable, with 7 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss in the last 10 games (including FA Cup).

This season in the Chinese Super League, Chengdu Rongcheng has won 7, drawn 2, and lost 4 away from home, ranking as the third-best away team in the league. Felipe has been in excellent form recently, scoring in two consecutive games. Notably, Chengdu Rongcheng has remained unbeaten with 10 wins and 2 draws in all matches where Felipe has scored this season. Additionally, Wei Shihao, who was previously suspended, will return to action in this round. However, according to Xu Zhengyuan before the game, “Wei Shihao is not yet at 100% fitness, but we will actively help him improve his competitive state.”

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