On August 13th at 8:00 PM, the East Asian Playoff of the Asian Champions League Elite League will kick off. Shandong Taishan will host Thai club Bangkok United at home.
With the reform of the Asian Champions League, the number of participating teams in the Elite League has been reduced from 40 to 24. Currently, 11 of the 12 spots in the East Asian region have been filled. In the Chinese Super League, Shanghai SIPG and Shanghai Shenhua have secured their spots as the league and FA Cup champions respectively. Shandong Taishan, however, finished as runner-up in both competitions last season, missing out on a direct qualification spot. They will have to compete against Bangkok United in a playoff to determine the final participant.
However, Shandong Taishan’s form this season is cause for concern. After the departures of Fellaini and Moises, the team has brought in new signings like Kazaisvilli, Zeka, and Marcel. However, their overall performance is far from their previous levels. Currently, Shandong Taishan has been struggling in the Chinese Super League, earning only 9 wins, 7 draws, and 7 losses in 23 rounds, placing them 5th with 34 points. They are a whopping 29 points behind the league-leading Shanghai SIPG, effectively eliminating any chances of a title challenge.
Furthermore, Shandong Taishan also trails third-placed Chengdu Rongcheng by 17 points. Securing a place in next season’s Asian Champions League through the Chinese Super League is merely a theoretical possibility. In their last 10 matches, Shandong Taishan has only achieved 3 wins, 2 draws, and 5 losses, with a win rate of only 30%. Notably, in their last 9 Chinese Super League matches, they have only managed 1 win, 3 draws, and 5 losses, their sole victory coming against the bottom-placed Nantong Zhiyun.
Since entering June, Shandong Taishan’s performance has been dismal. They have recorded 3 wins, 3 draws, and 5 losses in their last 11 matches, including a crushing 0-6 defeat at the hands of their long-time rivals Shanghai Shenhua and a 0-2 loss to Beijing Guoan. In their last match, they suffered a 1-3 defeat to Cangzhou Mighty Lions, a team that had gone 16 games without a win. This demonstrates the depths of their struggles.
Shandong Taishan’s offensive issues are a major concern. They have only managed to score 33 goals in 23 Chinese Super League matches, averaging just 1.43 goals per game, the lowest among the top five teams in the league. At the same time, they have also conceded 33 goals, averaging nearly 1.5 goals per game, showcasing a vulnerability at both ends of the field.
On the other hand, Bangkok United are fresh off their first win of the Thai League season, securing 3 points. Currently, they are in 6th place, but their recent form is impressive. They have won 6, drawn 3, and lost 1 in their last 10 matches, boasting a win rate of 60%. Their last defeat came on May 17th, suffering a 0-3 loss away to Police Tero.
It’s worth noting that Bangkok United boasts a strong lineup of foreign players. Meanwhile, Shandong Taishan are facing a serious injury crisis. Their star player, Cressedon, sustained an injury to his left biceps femoris and semitendinosus muscles in the last league match and is highly likely to miss this game. Even if he plays, his condition is uncertain.
Overall, Shandong Taishan are struggling, lacking morale and facing a difficult situation. Bangkok United, on the other hand, have several foreign players and are in better physical condition. In all aspects, Choi Kang-hee’s team will face a challenging battle. There is even a possibility of elimination.
>>”>Click here for more predictions about this match >>>
This article is from a user submission and does not represent the views of Soccer News Pick. If you repost it, please indicate the source: https://www.soccernewspick.com/other/26277.html
