Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Preview: Henan Songshan Longmen vs. Shandong Taishan - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 5 July 2023, 20:09
Shandong Taishan will look to extend an unbeaten run to 10 Chinese Super League games on Friday, when they travel to take on Henan Songshan Longmen.

The visitors currently occupy sixth spot after 14th top-flight outings, while their hosts are seven points worse off in 11th place following a defeat last time out.

Match preview

Following a sixth-placed Chinese Super League finish last season, Henan Songshan Longmen had to endure a dismal start to the new domestic campaign, as they failed to put a single victory on the board from their opening seven outings, while only earning four points.

The Red Devils have taken steps to correct their form since, though, adding 11 points to their tally in the seven matches since, having firstly ended their wait with a 1-0 home win over Dalian Pro before again being halted by a defeat to leaders Shanghai Port and a draw away at second-placed Shanghai Shenhua.

That latter draw did form the start of an improved four-match unbeaten run between late May and late June, though, as they would then beat strugglers Meizhou Hakka 2-1 and come from behind to draw 2-2 with Zhejiang, before moving onto 15 points from 13 outings with a 1-0 triumph away at Cangzhou Mighty Lions, as Nemanja Covic hit the decisive goal 15 minutes from time to see his side leapfrog their opponents.

They have since dropped back down to 11th place in the Chinese Super League, though, having most recently travelled to take on Changchun Yatai on Monday and suffered a 3-1 defeat despite Covic pulling one back on the stroke of half time, as goals for the hosts from Tan Long and Peter Zulj proved too much alongside a Toni Sunjic own goal.

Such a result did see the Red Devils drop back down to 11th spot, but still with renewed confidence in the camp following their recent improvement, Henan Songshan Longmen will be keen to get back on track and begin climbing back up the Chinese Super League table on Friday.

Their visitors, meanwhile, travel hoping to continue a strong run of form in China's top flight, after going through a slow start of their own, as a defeat away at Meizhou Hakka in early May left them on just five points from their first five outings.

While they were only able to follow up that second defeat of the campaign with three straight draws, those results have since provided the platform for a nine-match league winless run, as the Taishan Dui would then record three consecutive victories over Shenzhen, Qingdao and Dalian Pro, scoring six goals in the process without conceding any at the other end of the pitch.

After taking the winless run to seven matches with a 1-1 draw away at Wuhan Three Towns, Choi Kang-hee's team hosted Changchun Yatai at the end of June and triumphed in style with a 4-1 thrashing courtesy of goals from Crysan, Liu Binbin, Chen Pu and Fernandinho, before most recently meeting league leaders Shanghai Port on home turf on Monday.

Chen Pu put the Taishan Dui ahead just before the break, and while Li Shenglong drew their visitors level in the 74th minute, Shandong Taishan will still be pleased to have come away with a point, albeit dropping behind Changchun Yatai in the process, and now sitting sixth with just a one-point gap to fifth spot and a four-point gap to fourth-placed Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, they will bid to extend their unbeaten run and further strengthen their position in China's top flight.

Henan Songshan Longmen Chinese Super League form:

L

D

W

D

W

L

Shandong Taishan Chinese Super League form:

W

W

D

W

D

D

Team News

Henan Songshan Longmen's attack will be spearheaded by star man Nemanja Covic, who has managed eight goals in just 11 Chinese Super League appearances this term, a tally only topped by one other player in the division.

After being reduced to a substitute appearance last time out, Boyuan Feng will hope to come back in and join Covic up front, while Adrian Mierzejewski will also hope to keep his place in the attacking line.

Tomas Pina will again play a key role in midfield, likely alongside Songyi Li, while Toni Sunjic and Shuai Yang should partner up in the middle of a back four.

Key Shandong Taishan attacker Crysan, who notched up five league goals and two assists in a seven-match span between mid-May and the end of June, missed their meeting with Shanghai Port on Monday, and he could remain sidelined for Friday's contest.

In his absence, Belgian veteran and former Manchester United man Marouane Fellaini led the line, and he should again start up top, having managed four league goals of his own this term, with support from Moises in the centre and Chen Pu and Liu Binbin on the wings.

Behind Moises, Liao Lisheng will again play an important role in the engine room alongside either Yuanyi Li or Zhengyu Huang.

Henan Songshan Longmen possible starting lineup:

Wang; Luo, Sunjic, Yang, Mawlanyaz; Gao, Li, Pina, Zhong; Covic, Feng

Shandong Taishan possible starting lineup:

Wang; Ji, Shi, Zheng, Liu; Lisheng, Huang; Binbin, Moises, Pu; Fellaini

We say: Henan Songshan Longmen 1-2 Shandong Taishan

Previews by email

Top News

14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England interim manager Lee Carsley has played down Harry Kane's strong words about the withdrawal of many of his teammates, insisting he is looking forward to working with other players who also deserve a chance. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly fearful that Lisandro Martinez could spend an extended spell on the sidelines with the hip injury that has forced him to withdraw from Argentina duty. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sporting Lisbon wing-back Maximiliano Araujo has hinted that he hopes to join Pep Guardiola at Manchester City in the near future. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Morocco will be looking to maintain their 100% record in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers when they visit the Stade de Franceville to take on Gabon on Friday. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk San Marino will hope to leapfrog Gibraltar and prevent them from earning promotion from their UEFA Nations League D group when they welcome them to Stadio Olimpico di Serravalle on Friday. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk In their fifth UEFA Nations League C match of 2024-25, Northern Ireland are set to host Belarus on Friday at Windsor Park, with victory enough to guarantee a place in the top two. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Zimbabwe will be hoping to book their place at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations when they face Kenya on matchday five of qualifying this Friday at the Peter Mokaba Stadium. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United could reportedly move for Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite and Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez during next summer's transfer window. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool should arguably be considered favourites for Premier League glory after they took charge of the title race last weekend when they beat Aston Villa 2-0 at Anfield and moved five points ahead of second-placed Manchester City. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Burnley could reportedly offer Ruud van Nistelrooy the chance to make a swift return to English football, with the Clarets interested in bringing him in as their new manager. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cristiano Ronaldo is set to lead Portugal out in Porto when they face Poland in the UEFA Nations League on Friday night. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England captain Harry Kane has expressed his disappointment at the number of players to have withdrawn from the Three Lions squad for their UEFA Nations League fixtures with Greece and Republic of Ireland. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona centre-back Pau Cubarsi has been handed a call-up to the Spain squad for the national team's November international fixtures against Denmark and Switzerland in the UEFA Nations League. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid youngster Marc Cucalon has been forced to retire from professional football at the age of 19 due to a serious knee injury which he suffered in the latter stages of 2022. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have revealed that Ansu Fati has been ruled out for around four weeks with a hamstring injury. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Portugal manager Roberto Martinez is facing a crisis at centre-back ahead of their UEFA Nations League clash with Poland in Porto on Friday night. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Portugal welcome Poland to Porto on matchday five of the UEFA Nations League on Friday night. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has said that it is "the right moment" for Ruben Amorim to arrive at Old Trafford, claiming that the Portuguese "did something very special" at Sporting Lisbon. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal defender Ben White has apparently gone under the knife to treat a joint issue in his knee, which will sideline the Englishman for around two months. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have reportedly identified Al-Nassr centre-back Aymeric Laporte and Tottenham Hotspur right-back Pedro Porro as two of their top defensive targets for 2025. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly among three Premier League clubs interested in FC Nordsjaelland full-back Daniel Svensson. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly among three Premier League clubs interested in FC Nordsjaelland full-back Daniel Svensson. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Botswana will host Mauritania in their penultimate 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Francistown Stadium on Friday. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia has provided a positive injury update ahead of potentially representing Belgium. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Scotland's stay in the UEFA Nations League's top tier could be brought to its end on Friday, when they face an almost must-win game against League A Group 1 rivals Croatia. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lamine Yamal is among a number of absentees for Spain, as the national side conclude their 2024-25 UEFA Nations League group-stage campaign with fixtures against Denmark and Switzerland. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Spain will be bidding to secure top spot in Group 4 of League A in the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League when they head to Denmark on Friday evening for what is shaping up to be an intriguing affair. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion forward Danny Welbeck has claimed that speculation regarding a potential return to Manchester United is "irrelevant". 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly identified Manchester City winger Jack Grealish as a potential January transfer target. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly interested in joining the race to sign a Benfica defender in 2025.