Meizhou Hakka vs Shandong Taishan Prediction: The Hosts' More Than Capable Of Breaking Down Their Visitors Impregnable Defense

Meizhou Hakka will aim to bounce back against Shandong Taishan at the Wuhua Olympic Sports Center Huitang Stadium after suffering a defeat in their most recent game. And, with their position under jeopardy, they'll attempt everything they can to come away with a resounding result over a formidable opponent.

Form: LDWWL

The hosts' have not gone astray in the Super League as they have been on a convincing front with their performance, but to their detriment, they fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat on the road to Shanghai Shenhua.

While they have been preoccupied with trying to preserve a good record in their previous five games, they have done a fairly good job of retaining 7 points in the process, albeit it may not have been the set of results they had hoped to achieve as they have dropped two places down in the rankings.

With their fourth place in the super league standings a thing of the past, they now occupy sixth place with 30 points due to minor setbacks in recent matches, but they are not out of the woods yet as their position is threatened by an opposing super league outfit, Hangzhou Greentown, who sit in 7th place with only one point separating them.

They enter this game looking to avoid a second consecutive loss. They face a formidable opponent who have yet to lose a game in their past five matches, which may send chills down their spines as they attempt to get back to winning ways, with their last win coming from Hebei City FC three weeks ago.

Form: WDLWW

While they've fought relentlessly to catch up to table leaders Wuhan Three Towns in first place, their 4-0 win over Shenzhen F.C. was a game changer that saw them close the once-large seven point difference to a paltry four points.

On a two-match unbeaten streak, they have accumulated 12 points in the last five matches while scouring the super league, handing out only disappointing outcomes to their opponents while maintaining an impressive form.

Moving at a slower pace now following the table leaders' collapse in their latest encounter would likely be a let off for them as they are now only four points adrift of securing the top place finish as they now hold second position in the Super League rankings with 43 points.

Getting three points against a team that does not take kindly to being trampled on will be an arduous task, as a triumph in this case will give them optimism of keeping their title aspirations alive by reducing the four-point deficit to one point.

• Shandong Taishan are unbeaten in their last two Super League games.
• In the Super League, Meizhou Hakka have lost two of their last eleven home games.
• In the Super League, Shandong Taishan has won 8 of their past 11 away games.
• When playing at home, Meizhou Hakka scores an average of two goals, while Shandong Taishan scores an average of two goals away.

This will be their first Super League meeting.

Meizhou Hakka may have their hands full trying to exploit the visitors' impregnable defense, and choosing a less risky option by using a defensive approach will hardly provide them with the desired goal of walking away with a thumping victory.

And, while they are coming off a setback, it was an unpleasant result to get as they were far from the better side, and coming into this match, it's difficult to imagine them not being passive in this match with home advantage at play, creating a positive environment.

Shandong Taishan will be on the verge of extending their winning streak to two matches when they take on the hosts, and they are once again undeniably favourites to win this one on the road, as they do possess the quality to do so.

Shandong Taishan's defense should be commended for mounting a fortress that has only allowed five goals in their last five matches, and as potent as they can be, their hosts appear to be building on their momentum to be more competitive, which could see their defense breached this time around, leading to the conclusion that both teams should be expected to score

• Both Teams To Score (Yes) for 1.95
• Match Result - Shandong Taishan for 1.75
• Goals - Over 2.5 for 2.00