Preview: Wuhan Three Towns vs. Cangzhou Mighty Lions - prediction, team news, lineups

On the other hand, the away side are looking to end a dismal run of form which has seen them fail to win any of their last five matches.

Match preview

Cangzhou had to make do with a share of the spoils for the second home game running following a goalless stalemate against Shanghai Port.

Svetozar Sapuric's men had their backs against the wall for the majority of the contest but held firm to come away with a point in Shijiazhuang.

With 12 points picked up from 16 games so far, The Mighty Lions are 15th in the league standings, one point ahead of the drop zone albeit with two games in hand.

Awaiting them next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who recently gained promotion to the Chinese top flight for the first time since it was founded in 2016.

Having scored the joint-fewest number of goals away from home this term, Saturday's visitors will need to up the ante at the attacking end of the pitch as they aim to secure a first win on the road since June.

Wuhan Three Towns wasted no time in returning to winning ways thanks to a 2-1 victory against Changchun Yatai at the Changchun Stadium on Tuesday.

Pedro Morilla's men broke the deadlock through Davidson in the 13th minute but they were pegged back by Junior Negao's 56th-minute penalty only for Ademilson to decide the game with a late strike.

Consequently, The Hubei-based side remain top of the Chinese Super League table and are now seven points clear of nearest challengers Shandong Taishan.

Off the back of 16 straight home wins since last August, Saturday's hosts will fancy themselves to get the job done in front of their fans once again.

Wuhan Three Towns Chinese Super League form:

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W

W

Wuhan Three Towns form (all competitions):

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W

D

W

Cangzhou Mighty Lions competition form:

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D

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Cangzhou Mighty Lions form (all competitions):

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L

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D

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D

Team News

Leading goalscorer Marcao remains unavailable for Wuhan Three Towns through injury and the Brazilian is set to miss a third game on the bounce.

Ademilson will be pushing for a start in this one having scored in back to back games as a substitute following his goalscoring heroics off the bench last time out.

Bughrahan Iskandar was forced off with a first-half injury in Cangzhou's most recent outing against Shanghai Port, making the forward a doubt for Saturday's contest.

Fuyu Ma was Iskandar's replacement in the aforementioned game and the 21-year-old is the favourite to come into the starting XI for this one.

Wuhan Three Towns possible starting lineup:

Wu; Lu, Gao, Yaki, Zhang, Deng; Zhang, He, Luo, Xie; Davidson

Cangzhou Mighty Lions possible starting lineup:

Shao; Piao, Yang, Li, Yang, Yang; Ma, Zhukov, Guo, Owusu; Taty Maritu

We say: Wuhan Three Towns 3-1 Cangzhou Mighty Lions

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