At 7:35 PM on June 26th, Changchun Yatai will host Shandong Taishan in a highly anticipated clash of the Chinese Super League’s 16th round. The away side will be missing key players Wang Dalei, Fernando, and Cressan.
Changchun Yatai has had a difficult season so far, recording a 3-4-8 record, scoring 17 goals while conceding 27, placing them 14th in the league table, just 2 points ahead of last-placed Nantong Zhiyun. Adding to their woes, foreign player Guilherme has been ruled out for the season due to a ruptured cruciate ligament. Guilherme had been a key contributor, scoring 3 goals and providing 2 assists in 12 appearances this season.
Yatai have only won 2 of their last 10 Chinese Super League matches, going winless in the last 3. Their most recent outing saw them suffer a 1-3 defeat to Zhejiang at away. However, their home form has shown a marked improvement compared to the early part of the season. They have gone unbeaten in their last 3 home games, winning 1 and drawing 2. Head coach Xie Hui is well aware of the challenge ahead: “This week we have two home games, which is fortunate, but our first opponent is the strong Shandong Taishan, so it will be a tough game. But I have said before that at home, we are not afraid of any opponent. We hope that through our efforts, our preparation, and our fighting spirit, we can give our fans a win.”
Shandong Taishan, on the other hand, have gone unbeaten in their last 9 league games, winning 6 and drawing 3. However, their last game saw them draw with Meizhou Hakka on the road, allowing Shanghai Shenhua and Shanghai Port to pull further ahead in the standings. The realistic goal for Taishan now might be to secure third place. The team’s roster is still incomplete. Goalkeeper Liu Shibo, who had a subpar performance in the FA Cup, will continue to start. Key players Wang Dalei, Fernando, and Cressan were absent from the pre-game training session.
Head coach Choi Kang-hee commented on the upcoming game: “After finishing our match against Chongqing, we came to Changchun. The journey was quite tiring, so we focused on recovery. We have a good understanding of our opponent and have made tactical plans accordingly. We believe we can put on a good performance.”
The two teams met once this season, with Shandong Taishan winning 4-2 at home. In their last 5 encounters, Shandong Taishan has emerged victorious in all matches. In their last 10 head-to-head meetings, Shandong Taishan holds a dominant record of 9 wins and 1 draw.
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