There is a full round of mid-week fixtures in the Chinese Super League as clubs at the top and bottom of the table look to pick up vital points. The pick of the Wednesday evening games sees Chongqing Lifan welcome Shangdon Luneng to the Chongqing Olympic Sports Center.
It’s the visitors who are in better shape in terms of league position heading into this match as they sit 4th in the current Chinese Super League table. They also have a game in hand on each of the 3 teams above them so a win in this game and their additional match could see them close the gap at the top of the table. Chongqing Lifan are 8th in the league and a need a win here to remain in contention for a top half finish this season.
Chongqing Lifan Form
Having enjoyed a 7-match unbeaten run in the Chinese Super League, Chongqing Lifan have lost their last 2 matches and need to get back to winning ways. Having defeated Beijing Guoan, Guangzhou R and F, Yanbian Funde, Hebei CFFC and Tianjin Teda, Chongqing Lifan looked like a team capable of braking into the top six places in the league this season.
However, their last 2 matches have seen defeats at the hands of Guizhou Zhicheng and Jiangsu Suning, the latter of which was a 2-1 home loss. Chongqing Lifan have kept just a single clean sheet in their last 8 games but have found the back of the net in 8 of their last 9 matches.
Shangdon Luneng Form
Shangdon Luneng travel to the Chongqing Olympic Sports Center aiming to extend their 4-match unbeaten run and close in on the league leaders. With 2 wins and 2 draws from their last 4 matches, Shangdon Luneng have proven to be a difficult team to beat. Looking back further at their results, they have lost only 2 of their previous 11 games in all competitions, with 1 of those defeats coming in the FA Cup.
Away from home in the Chinese Super League Shangdon Luneng have lost only 1 of their last 6 games, which was a 2-1 loss at the current league leaders, Guangzhou Evergrande. Shangdon Luneng have kept 3 clean sheets in those 6 matches.
Team News
Chongqing Lifan will be hoping both Alan Kardec and Fernandinho are fit for this match, as the Brazilian duo have scored the bulk of their goals this season. The experienced Wu Qing is expected to start in midfield.
Shangdon Luneng have two in-form strikers of their own and Diego Tardelli and Papiss Cisse are set to start the match up-front but Graziano Pelle will also hope to feature.
Top Betting Tips
Despite being the away team, it’s Shangdon Luneng who come into this match as the favourites, priced at 21/20 with Ladbrokes. They are the team in better form so it makes sense.
However, Shangdon Luneng have picked up just 1 win from their last 4 games and Chongqing Lifan will see this an opportunity to pick up at least a point. Having scored and conceded in 8 of their 10 homes games, the draw and both teams to score seems like a good bet at 16/5 with William Hill.
Brazilian striker Diego Tardelli has been in outstanding form for Shangdon Luneng recently, scoring 10 goals in his last 10 games. Tardelli is 9/2 with Ladbrokes to score the first goal of the game.