Qingdao West Coast vs Henan FC Prediction: Siding With The Seasoned Veteran To Walk Away With A Favorable Outcome

The China Super League begins its first round of matches this Friday as newly promoted Qingdao West Coast hosts Henan FC at the Qingdao West Coast University City Stadium.

Let's have a look at the latest Chinese Super League predictions between Qingdao West Coast vs. Henan FC, match facts, head-to-head statistics and betting odds for you to consider!

Note: Odds are subject to change at any time! 

Qingdao West Coast earned a historic promotion to the top flight for the first time in the club's history as they finished second in the previous season of the second tier, which was their second consecutive appearance since being promoted in the 2021/22 season. In the previous season of the Jia League, they boasted the second-best attacking strength with 44 goals scored, and they boasted the joint third-best defensive record, having conceded only 22 goals.

Despite not finishing in first place, which was unfortunate of them as they were eight points shy, their dominance was evident, suffering three defeats in 30 matches played alongside 17 wins and 10 draws. Former Japan international Hisashi Kurosaki will hope that his team will perform to the required standards in a highly competitive league, and avoiding relegation in their debut season will be deemed a significant accomplishment.

On the contrary, Henan FC endured a challenging season in the previous top-flight campaign, settling for a tenth-place finish with 36 points. While this was their worst finish since the 2019/20 season, there are some positives to consider, like steering clear of the relegation zone despite being embroiled in a relegation battle until the latter half of the season.

Henan FC have refrained from playing any friendly matches since the conclusion of the 2022–23 China Super League season and could be a bit rusty coming into this match. During the transfer window, they signed Kitchee's defender Gerbig Oliver for €130K. Having made 51 appearances for Hanan FC as a midfielder, Adrian Mierzejewski, the 37-year-old, will not feature in any of the future matches for his club following his retirement from football.

• Qingdao West Coast have lost one of their last 15 matches across all competitions.
• Henan FC have lost eight of their last ten away matches across all competitions.
• Qingdao West Coast averages 1.6 goals per game when playing at home, and Henan FC averages 2 goals per game when playing away.

This marks the inaugural encounter between these two teams in the China Super League.

Qingdao West Coast may be the newcomers, but they've already proven they can deliver a powerful performance whenever needed. Their seventeen-match unbeaten run in the second-tier league last season is testament to that powerful performance, and this could see them pick up a favorable outcome in their debut match.

However, we have to side with the seasoned veteran in this matchup, who boasts more experience than Qingdao West Coast. Therefore, we suggest backing Henan FC to win or draw, combined with a total of under 4.5 goals, which should surface despite a not so convincing away performance. 

• 2X & TU 4.5 for 1.72
• Both Teams To Score - Yes for 1.79
• Corners - Under 11 for 1.66