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: Meizhou Hakka vs. Cangzhou Mighty Lions - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 7 June 2023, 12:57
Meizhou Hakka will be looking to end their dreadful winless run when they host fellow strugglers Cangzhou Mighty Lions at Huitang Stadium on Friday in the Chinese Super League.

The hosts have lost their last two and sit precariously above the relegation zone, whilst Cangzhou were also on the losing side last time out.

Match preview

Meizhou's winless run in the league extended to five matches on the weekend with a 2-1 loss at Henan, with a brace from Nemanja Jovic cancelling out Congyao Yin's sixth-minute strike.

Hakka return to Huitang Stadium in this one after back-to-back away defeats, although there will not be too much optimism around the ground on Friday night considering they have collected just four points in five home matches so far.

Milan Ristic's men sit 13th in the Super League standings after 11 games, only one point better off than 15th-placed Qingdao Hainiu who occupy the highest of the relegation places.

Chaosheng Yang is having a productive campaign for Meizhou, with the 29-year-old managing three league goals in eight appearances so far - he only scored once in the entirety of last season.

Cangzhou were unable to make it two-straight wins on the weekend when they fell to a 1-0 defeat at home to Shanghai Shenhua at Cangzhou Stadium, with a second-half goal from Haijian Wang settling the contest.

The Mighty Lions will be looking to avoid a repeat of their last away match in which a Sang-Woo Kang brace helped Beijing Guoan to a 6-2 thrashing over Friday's visitors.

Junzhe Zhao's men are currently 12th in the Chinese Super League after their opening 11 matches, only a point above their opponents on Friday - a loss would see Meizhou leapfrog the Mighty Lions.

Oscar Maritu has been scoring the goals from the right flank this season for Cangzhou - the 23-year-old leads the club's scoring charts with four goals in 11 appearances.

Meizhou Hakka Chinese Super League form:

W

L

L

D

L

L

Cangzhou Mighty Lions Chinese Super League form:

D

D

L

L

W

L

Team News

Meizhou are likely to make a couple of changes from their defeat last time out, with attackers Guokang Chen and Elguja Lobjanidze pushing for starts after appearing off the bench last weekend.

Nebojsa Kosovic is likely to partner Liang Shi in the Hakka engine room - the 28-year-old has claimed a regular spot in the side over recent months.

Cangzhou are set to keep their five-at-the-back formation which they utilised in their last match, meaning Dutchman Jurgen Locadia will lead the line for the visitors once again.

Fellow countryman Deabeas Owusu-Sekyere came off the bench last time out and could partner Locadia in attack if the Mighty Lions wanted to field a more attacking side on Friday night.

Meizhou Hakka possible starting lineup:

Cheng; Yue, Pan, Dugalic, Rao; Shi, Kosovic, Yang, Ye, Yang; Yin

Cangzhou Mighty Lions possible starting lineup:

Shao; Sun, Whang, zhENG, liU, Zhao; Maritu, Zhukov, Skoric, Yao; Locadia

We say: Meizhou Hakka 1-1 Cangzhou Mighty Lions

Meizhou are enduring a terrible run of form in the Chinese Super League but should be confident of earning a result against a Cangzhou side who were dismantled in their last away outing.

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.