Shenzhen FC will be hoping to bring a dismal run of form to an end when they head to the Workers' Stadium to take on Beijing Guoan in the CSL on Saturday.
The hosts managed to claim a very good win over third-placed Chengdu Rongcheng last week, which saw them move up to seventh in the league standings, while the visitors lost 3-1 to Wuhan Three Towns, recording their fourth consecutive league loss.
Match preview
After losing to Shanghai Port at the end of last month, Beijing Guoan bounced back excellently last week to beat Chengdu Rongcheng despite their opposition being by far the more dominant side on the day.
Nebijan Muhmet's goal inside the first 30 minutes came from the only shot on target that Beijing managed in the entire match, while their opponents fired an incredible 28 shots at goal without finding the net.
With that win, Ricardo Soares's team have now recorded five wins, six draws and three losses in their 14 matches this season, with three of those victories coming on their home patch in seven matches to date.
Soares took charge of Beijing Guoan less than a month ago, but there have already been several positives that can be taken since his appointment, most noticeably in defence, where his side have kept two clean sheets in his three-match reign and won both matches 1-0.
However, both those victories came in away matches, and the new boss will see this encounter as the perfect opportunity to register the first home win of his current tenure.
Shenzhen's 3-1 loss to Wuhan Three Towns last week saw them reeled in by the sides below them, and they are now just two points above the relegation zone with 11 points after 14 matches.
That loss was also their fourth consecutive one in the league and their fifth in all competitions, which included a loss to CFA Division Two side Nantong Haimen Codion in the third round of the FA Cup at the end of last month.
Like their opponents, Shenzhen also appointed a new manager this season, but in contrast to Soares, Chen Tao's side have been shipping goals at a rate in recent times, conceding three or more in each of their last four league matches alone.
The visitors currently have the worst away record of any side in the CSL, having not won on the road as yet this season and taking just one point in their five matches while conceding 14 and scoring just four in that time.
Shenzhen did manage a 2-1 win over this opponent in their previous encounter; however, the last time they played at this venue, they were comprehensively beaten 4-1 and could be in for another difficult afternoon this time around.
Team News
Sang-Woo Kang has been granted special leave by Soares and will not feature in this match, which should mean that Tianyi Gao will continue down the left flank.
Samuel Adegbenro gave a good account of himself after being handed a start against Chengdu Rongcheng and could lead the line again here alongside Dabao Yu.
The former Anderlecht man and Ghanaian international Frank Acheampong netted his fifth goal of the season in their 3-1 defeat last weekend and will almost certainly lead the attack for the visitors.
Having conceded in bulk over the last few matches, Tao may be tempted to recall Shuai Pei to the starting 11 as an extra layer of protection in front of the backline.
Beijing Guoan possible starting lineup:
Han; Feng, Ngadeu, Bai, Li; Gao, Souza, Piao, Muhmet; Adegbenro, Yu
Shenzhen possible starting lineup:
Dong; Zheng, Yang, Yuan, Jiang; Pei, Xu, Ghojaehmet, Zhang, Liu; Acheampong
We say: Beijing Guoan 2-1 Shenzhen
While Beijing Guoan have by no means been great this season, they have shown positive signs under their new management and look like a side that can improve. Against the side with the worst away record in the league here, we fancy Soares to pick up his first home win in charge in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Devesh Jaganath
