Preview: Wuhan vs. Shanghai Shenhua - prediction, team news, lineups

The Flower of Shanghai head into the game unbeaten in each of their last seven games against the hosts and will be looking to keep the juggernaut rolling.

Match preview

Wuhan were sent crashing back down to earth in the Wuhan derby as they fell to a humbling 5-0 defeat against Wuhan Three Towns at the Puwan Stadium on Friday.

After leading 2-0 at the break through strikes from Davidson and Ademilson, Wuhan continued the onslaught in the second half as Nicolae Stanciu and Kuo Yang scored either side of Ademilson's second of the game to cap off a sensational team performance.

Prior to that, Li Jinyu's men ended their four-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over Guangzhou City on July 4 courtesy of goals from Asmir Kajevic and Felicio Brown Forbes.

Wuhan have now won four and lost five of their nine games to collect 12 points and sit 10th in the Chinese Super League standings, but could move ise into the top-half of the table with all three points on Tuesday.

However, next up is the challenge of squaring off against an opposing side who are unbeaten in each of their last seven encounters, claiming three wins and four draws since 2013.

Elsewhere, Shanghai Shenhua returned to winning ways last time out as they narrowly saw off Hebei 1-0 when the sides squared off at the Jinzhou Stadium.

Following an uneventful first half, in-form forward Jianrong Zhu came up trumps for the Flower of Shanghai as he came off the bench to grab the only goal of the game in the 56th minute.

This followed a disappointing 4-2 loss against first-placed Wuhan Three Towns on July 3 which saw their run of 11 consecutive games without defeat in all competitions come to an end.

With 20 points from nine games, Shanghai Shenhua are currently fourth in the league standings, level on points with third-placed Henan Songshan Longmen and five off Wuhan Three Towns at the top of the pile.

Wuhan Chinese Super League form:

Shanghai Shenhua Chinese Super League form:

Team News

Goalkeeper Zhang Zhenqiang was hooked off with a 68th-minute injury against Wuhan Three Towns last time out and the 21-year-old is a doubt for the hosts.

Should he fail to shake off the injury, second-choice goalkeeper Gao Xiang will come in for what will be just his first starting appearance of the season.

However, Wuhan will be boosted by the return of Xu Dong, who was handed a 30-minute cameo in the aforementioned game after a four-match injury lay-off.

Meanwhile, Jianrong Zhu came off the bench to grab the winner against Hebei last time out and the 30-year-old should be rewarded with a place in the starting XI

Zhu, who has now scored five goals in his last five outings, should team up with Shilin Sun at the centre of the park, while we expect to see an attacking duo of Christian Bassogog and Ruofan Liu.

Wuhan possible starting lineup:

Xiang; Shangkun, P Li, Viana, Yuhao; Liu, Nie, Kajevic; J Hu, Liu, Forbes

Shanghai Shenhua possible starting lineup:

Ma; Li, Bi, Zhu, Bai; N'Doumbou, Zhu, Sun, Cao; Bassogog, Liu

We say: Wuhan X-Y Shanghai Shenhua

Shanghai Shenhua will be licking their lips as they go up against a Wuhan side who have lost five of their last six outings. Looking at the gulf in quality between the two sides and their contrasting form, we are backing the visitors to extend their dominance over Wuhan.

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