Meizhou Hakka will be hoping to continue their recent upturn in form when they play host to Beijing Guoan in the CSL, at the Wuhua Olympic Sports Center Huitang Stadium on Wednesday.
The hosts picked up a vital three points in their last match, which saw them move up to 12th place in the league, while the visitors recorded a huge 5-0 win over Shenzhen, moving them up a spot into sixth at the halfway point.
Match preview
After managing just nine points from their first 13 matches this season, Meizhou Hakka's four points in their last two matches have helped them open up a little bit of daylight between themselves and the relegation zone, though they are by no means clear just yet, with still only three points separating themselves and Qingdao Hainiu in 15th place.
Milan Ristic's men recorded only their third win of the campaign in their last match against Chengdu Rongcheng, which was just the second time this season that they have gone two consecutive matches without defeat.
However, even with that win, Meizhou Hakka still possess the worst home record of any side in the league this season, taking just seven points in as many matches with a record of two wins, one draw and four losses.
The major issue for hosts this season has been their defensive weakness, as they have conceded the second-most goals of any side in the CSL this season (27), with only Shenzhen shipping more up to this point (36).
The previous encounter between these sides was a six-goal thriller that ended 3-3, but Ristic will know that it will be much more difficult to take anything this time around, with his opponents starting to find some form of late.
Beijing Guoan have noticeably improved this season and have moved up the table by two places in the last two weeks, currently in sixth and already a place better off from where they finished last term.
Wang Ziming headlined for Beijing against Shenzhen last week as he became just the fourth player to score a hat-trick in the CSL this season after their opponents were reduced to 10 men moments before the break.
That was their sixth win of the season in 15 matches, along with six draws and three losses, leaving them on a tally of 24 points, which is just three behind the AFC Champions League qualifier spots.
However, in order to reach the top three, they will need to address their away record, which is less impressive, with just nine points taken from a possible 21 and only two wins recorded in their last seven matches on the road.
Ricardo Soares's side are currently the highest-scoring team in the CSL with 28 goals, 13 of which came in the last five matches, and they will fancy their chances of getting a few more here against one of the weakest defences in the league.
Team News
Yang Yilin is the only absentee for the hosts, and he will serve the second of his three-match ban in this one after being shown a straight red against Nantong Zhiyun at the start of the month.
Chugui Ye stepped up in Yilin's absence and should continue down the left flank, while Junjie Wen will be hoping for a recall in defence after being left out of the last match.
Wang's hat-trick in the last match should have all but secured him another start in this match, while Dabao Yu could partner him in attack in place of Samuel Adegbenro.
The right-wing combination of Piao Cheng and Feng Boxuan worked like a charm in the last match, with both players getting on the scoresheet, and we should see them start again in this one.
Meizhou Hakka possible starting lineup:
Cheng; Yue, Liao, Wen, Chen; Kosovic, Shi, H Yin, Henrique, Ye; C Yin
Beijing Guoan possible starting lineup:
Han; Feng, Ngadeu, Bai, Li; Piao, Ademi, Souza, Muhmet; Wang, Yu
We say: Meizhou Hakka 2-2 Beijing Guoan
While the visitors do come into this match as the favourites, their away form has been average at best, and they have struggled to put games to bed at times, as they showed against bottom club Dalian Pro a few weeks ago.
The hosts have found some form of late and could prove to be a tough opponent here; therefore, we expect them to take a point from this match.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
