Explore My Football Facts detailed preview for Shanghai Port vs Zhejiang in Super League. Stats, odds, predictions and line-ups for the 12:35 BST match.
Shanghai Port come into this one with a recent mixed league run, but they have yet to show they can perform well at home, as seen in the 4-0 win over Wuhan Three Towns. Zhejiang have been more uneven away from home, with heavy defeats at Chengdu Rongcheng and Wuhan Three Towns alongside two wins and a draw in their last five league games. With Shanghai Port at the Shanghai Stadium and the head-to-head record in recent meetings, the home team looks the more reliable choice.
Zhejiang have enough in their recent results to suggest they can make it competitive, especially after picking up points against Tianjin Jinmen Tiger and beating Yunnan Yukun. Shanghai Port have also been drawing more often than winning lately, so this might not be easy for the hosts. Still, the combination of home advantage and recent head-to-head advantage points to a narrow win for Shanghai Port. Match prediction: Shanghai Port 2-1 Zhejiang
Forms guide and team overview
Port of Shanghai
Shanghai Port’s recent league form has been mixed, with two draws, one win and two defeats in their last five. The highlight of that run is a 4-0 home win over Wuhan Three Towns, but they have also drawn 2-2 away to Beijing Guoan and 1-1 at home to Shenzhen Peng City.
This suggests a team capable of scoring but not always controlling games throughout the 90 minutes. Defeats to Qingdao Hainiu and Chongqing Tonglianglong FC show that there has been some inconsistency in their results.
Port of Shanghai 5 last results
Zhejiang
Zhejiang’s recent league form is also uneven, but they have had more positive results than Shanghai Port in the last five. They drew 1-1 with Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, beat Yunnan Yukun 2-1 at home and beat Shenzhen Peng City 2-1 at home.
Of concern is the extent of away defeats, with a 0-4 loss to Chengdu Rongcheng and a 0-2 loss to Wuhan Three Towns. That makes their record outside of this show look less secure, even if recent wins show they can still compete.
Zhejiang Last 5 results
Team news and injury report
Port of Shanghai
- Wang Shenchao (Hip Problems)
Zhejiang
- No injuries have been recorded during the current season.
Alignments and tactical configuration
Shanghai Port (5-4-1)
Expected lineup: Yan Junling (Goalkeeper), Alex Yang (Defender), Shimeng Bao (Defender), Umidjan Yusup (Defender), Wei Zhen (Defender), Zhang Linpeng (Defender), Liu Zhurun ​​​​(Midfielder), Mateus Vital (Midfielder), Xinxiang Li (Midfielder), Zhang Yuan (Midfielder)), Leonardo (Midfielder)
Shanghai Port’s projected 5-4-1 should give them a solid foundation, with plenty of bodies behind the ball and a clear focus on keeping Zhejiang’s attacking midfielders in front of them. It also leaves Leonardo as the primary outlet, so his transitions and direct play will likely be built around getting him into useful positions.
Zhejiang (4-2-3-1)
Expected lineup: Chunyu Dong (Goalkeeper), Aihui Zhang (Defender), Guowen Sun (Defender), Haofan Liu (Defender), Tong Lei (Defender), Alexandru Mitriță (Midfielder), Jiaqi Zhang (Midfielder), Jin-seob Park (Midfielder), Marko Tolic (Midfielder), Yudong Wang (Midfielder), Yudong Wang (Midfielder), Yudong Wang (Midfielder)
Zhejiang’s predicted 4-2-3-1 gives them a balanced structure, with two deeper midfielders helping to protect the back four and support the formation. This form should also allow Alexandru Mitriță and the wider attackers to feed Qianglong Tao with enough service to threaten on the break and with settled possession.
