Preview: Changchun Yatai vs. Shenzhen - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts currently sit seventh in the league table but have the possibility of climbing to fourth if they can claim three points in this match.

Match preview

Changchun Yatai have had a mixed start to the season with five victories, two draws, and four defeats, which has left the team midtable heading into this round of games.

A consistent issue for Chen Yang's men is the defensive side of the game as only one team in the division has conceded more goals than them at this stage in the campaign, which is their opponents.

That problem was clear last Friday when they were defeated by Beijing Guoan despite the fact that they scored three goals with Leo Souza getting a brace and Tan Long also finding the back of the net.

However, even though they boasted a 3-2 lead in the 65th minute Changchun Yatai ended up losing 4-3, with an 87th-minute goal proving to be decisive.

That defeat marked the second game in a row that Changchun Yatai have suffered defeat, having conceded seven goals across those two.

The visitors also head into this match on the back of a defeat, which is a game they will want to forget immediately after a difficult 3-0 loss.

Shenzhen's loss continued their difficulties on the road as the team have still failed to win a single away game this season, which has been a big factor in their current league position.

Jun Xiang's men currently find themselves 11th in the Chinese Super League and another defeat on Thursday could see them slip into the relegation zone depending on other results.

Shenzhen have conceded the most goals in the league at this stage, and that is another issue that the team needs to address in order to start moving up the division.

They have only scored three times on the road this season in four games, and working on that side of the game will be something that Xiang is pushing.

Changchun Yatai Chinese Super League form:

L

D

W

W

L

L

Shenzhen Chinese Super League form:

L

W

D

L

W

L

Team News

Souza showcased his attacking threat in Changchun Yatai's most recent match, and he should retain his place leading the attack as a solo strike for this midweek fixture.

The hosts opted to deploy five at the back in their most recent match, and that is something that could be done once again as the team looks to focus on their defensive frailties.

The visitors switched up their formation in their most recent outing, opting for a 4-2-3-1 instead of the traditional 4-4-2 that has been used, showcasing that there are plenty of options that Xiang is willing to use.

Frank Acheampong leading the attack is something that can be guaranteed though, as he has proven to be a crucial player for Shenzhen so far this season.

Changchun Yatai possible starting lineup:

Wu; Liu, Sun, Okore, Bi, Li; Tan, Wang, Zhang, Abdusalam; Souza

Shenzhen possible starting lineup:

Wei; Xu, Yang, Yuan, Jiang; Zheng, Huang, Y. Xu, Donkin; Acheampong, Du

We say: Changchun Yatai 3-2 Shenzhen

The two worst defensive teams in the Chinese Super League competing against each other should lead to a game full of goals that will be ideal for any neutral fans.

Both teams head into this one on the back of a defeat, but considering Shenzhen's poor away record it should be Changchun Yatai that takes all three points here.

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