Cup Preview: Shanghai Derby Kicks Off Tonight! Port Boasts the Strongest Attack in the CSL, While Shenhua Seeks Seventh Straight Win

On September 25 at 19:35, the semi-final of the FA Cup will see Shanghai Port host Shanghai Shenhua at their home ground. The winner of this match will face Shandong Taishan for the championship.

Shanghai Port is the team with the strongest attacking power in the Chinese Super League (CSL), having scored 87 goals in 26 rounds, averaging 3.35 goals per game; they have netted 52 goals in 13 home league matches, averaging 4 goals per game. From March to now, they have won 13 and drawn 2 out of 15 home games, making the Pudong Stadium a formidable venue.

At the pre-match press conference, Port’s head coach, Muscat, repeatedly emphasized the word “exciting”: “With the support of our fans both in the stadium and watching on TV, we aim to deliver an exciting match. We are physically prepared and hope to play an exciting game to achieve a good result.” The coach’s attitude is that although it is a typically conservative semi-final of a cup competition, Port still intends to maintain its original style and be bold in attack.

Shanghai Shenhua has also been in excellent form recently, winning six consecutive matches (4 league games, 1 FA Cup, 1 AFC Champions League) including a 3-1 victory over Shanghai Port at home on August 17. In these six matches, Shenhua conceded 8 goals, which is not the most stable defense, but they scored 20 goals, indicating a strong offensive momentum.

Shenhua’s head coach, Slutsky, pointed out that the team needs to prepare for all possible scenarios: “Tomorrow is bound to be a passionate encounter. Both teams are closely matched, and I think the overall direction of the match is very difficult to predict.”

In terms of head-to-head records, the two teams have drawn 4 out of their last 10 encounters, each winning 3, showing a balanced rivalry. However, in the three clashes this season (one Super Cup and two league matches), Shanghai Shenhua has the upper hand with 2 wins and 1 draw, scoring a total of 5 goals against 2.

In terms of player availability, Shanghai Port’s forward Shen Zui continues to be absent. For Shanghai Shenhua, foreign striker Malele is out due to an ankle injury. Additionally, the head coach mentioned during the pre-match press conference that due to the tight schedule, several players are not in optimal condition, and their participation and duration on the pitch are uncertain.

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