At 8:00 PM on August 17th, the 23rd round of the 2024 Chinese Super League season will kick off, with a strong clash between Shandong Taishan, who will be playing at home, and Chengdu Rongcheng.
Shandong Taishan won both the Chinese Super League and the FA Cup last season, but their performance has plummeted this season. After 23 games, they are in fifth place with 34 points from 9 wins, 7 draws, and 7 losses. Shandong Taishan are 29 points behind Shanghai Port at the top of the table, leaving only a theoretical sliver of hope for them to win the championship.
Chengdu Rongcheng has been performing consistently, with 16 wins, 3 draws, and 4 losses in 23 games, putting them in third place on the table with 51 points. However, Chengdu Rongcheng are also 12 points behind the leaders and 7 points behind Shanghai Shenhua in second place, making their championship hopes also slim. However, as Beijing Guoan drew 0-0 with Zhejiang Team in this round, Chengdu Rongcheng, who have a game in hand, are now 9 points ahead of the Imperial Guards and are looking to solidify their place in the top three.
In their last 10 games, Shandong Taishan have only managed 3 wins, 2 draws, and 5 losses. They suffered a three-game losing streak in the Chinese Super League, losing to Henan Team, Shanghai Port, and Cangzhou Lions. However, in the Asian Champions League play-off 4 days ago, Shandong Taishan fought fiercely against Bangkok United for 120 minutes, ultimately advancing through a penalty shootout, boosting their morale.
Chengdu Rongcheng are currently in excellent form, going unbeaten in their last 10 games with 9 wins and 1 draw. Their only draw was a 1-1 tie with Wuhan Three Towns, while the other 9 games saw them score 25 goals, averaging 2.78 goals per game. In their last 3 games, Chengdu Rongcheng have scored 10 goals, including a 3-1 win against Zhejiang Team, a 4-0 win against Changchun Yatai, and a 3-0 win against Shenzhen New Pengcheng. Their offense and defense have both been impressive.
Shandong Taishan have lost 5 of their last 10 Chinese Super League games, with a win rate of only 20%. Their last 10 home games have seen them achieve 5 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses, with a win rate of only 50%. Clearly, there’s room for improvement in their overall performance.
Chengdu Rongcheng’s away form has also been impressive, with 6 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses in their last 10 away games. Their last 7 away games have seen them win 5 and draw 2, remaining unbeaten. In their last 2 away games, Chengdu Rongcheng have scored 6 goals and conceded only 1, showcasing their formidable attacking power.
Shandong Taishan have only played Chengdu Rongcheng 5 times, with each team securing 2 wins and one draw, meaning neither has a clear advantage. In April 2024, they faced off in the first leg, with Chengdu Rongcheng losing 0-1 at home.
It’s worth noting that Shandong Taishan is currently facing a serious injury issue. Cresse and Wu Xinghan missed the pre-match training and are likely to miss the game. Cresse has made 20 appearances across all competitions this season, contributing 10 goals and 3 assists, directly involved in 13 goals. His absence is sure to be a blow to Shandong Taishan, who are already struggling in attack. However, Zeca participated in the training and is likely to make his debut.
Overall, Chengdu Rongcheng are undoubtedly in better form. Shandong Taishan, despite playing at home, will face a tough battle due to a congested schedule and injuries.
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