Chinese Super League Preview: Cangzhou Lions to Play Defensive for Points, Shanghai Port to Attack for Victory

On October 27 at 15:30, the Chinese Super League will see a match in the 29th round, with Cangzhou Lions hosting Shanghai Port.

In the first 28 rounds of this season, Cangzhou Lions have achieved 7 wins, 8 draws, and 13 losses, earning 29 points and currently ranking 11th on the league table. The team leads the relegation zone by 5 points, making their relegation only theoretically possible. For the last two rounds, they are largely without pressure.

In their 14 home games this season, the team has recorded 5 wins, 3 draws, and 6 losses, which is relatively better than their away performance. In 14 matches, they scored 17 goals, indicating that the team has a certain offensive capability. They conceded 22 goals, which is not too bad. Cangzhou Lions have had several impressive performances at home this season, including a 1-0 win against Chengdu Rongcheng and a 3-1 victory over Shandong Taishan. The team hopes to continue defeating strong opponents.

At the pre-match press conference, head coach Li Xiaopeng expressed his hope that the team would give it their all and create as many problems as possible for the opponent.

Shanghai Port has achieved 23 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses in the first 28 rounds, accumulating 72 points and currently ranking second on the league table. The team lost to Chengdu Rongcheng in the previous round, being overtaken by their city rival Shanghai Shenhua at a critical moment in the title race. The current title situation is very passive for them. However, Shanghai Port’s last two opponents, Cangzhou Lions and Tianjin Jinmenhu, are not strong teams, while Shanghai Shenhua will face Chengdu Rongcheng, who defeated Port, in their final match. This game could be a crucial battle for the title. To reverse the situation and win the championship, Port must first secure victories in their last two matches.

In their 14 away games this season, Shanghai Port’s performance has been noticeably worse than at home. Both of their defeats this season have come from away games. In 14 matches, they scored 36 goals, showcasing a formidable offensive ability, but they also conceded 15 goals, with an average of more than one goal per game, indicating significant defensive vulnerabilities. Poor defense is the main reason they were overtaken in the final stages.

At the pre-match press conference, Muscat expressed his hope that the team would not be affected by the loss to Chengdu Rongcheng and would continue to work hard to win the last two matches.

The two teams have met 15 times historically, with Shanghai Port winning 9 and drawing 6, never losing. There is a significant gap in strength between the two teams. In this match, Cangzhou Lions, who are largely without pressure, will likely play defensively to secure a draw, while Shanghai Port’s sole objective is to win, and they will launch a full-scale attack. This match is likely to turn into a one-sided offensive and defensive drill.

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