Shandong Taishan vs Shanghai Shenhua Prediction: Both Teams Looking To Avoid Their First Defeat Of The Season

Shandong Taishan will welcome Shanghai Shenhua to the Jinan Olympic Sports Center in the third round of the Chinese Super League. 

Shanghai Shenhua enters this match seeking their fourth consecutive win across all competitions and could count themselves lucky as they face a side they last defeated 1-0 at home in the previous season. 

Let's have a look at the latest Chinese Super League predictions between Shandong Taishan vs. Shanghai Shenhua, probable lineups, match facts, and betting odds for you to consider!

Note: Odds are subject to change at any time! 

Shandong Taishan went into the international break steeped in disappointment as their last match against Japan's Yokohama F. Marinos saw their journey in the AFC Champions League come to an end as they suffered a 1-0 defeat in the second leg of the quarter-finals (aggregate: 3-1), with Choi Kang-hee putting the blame on fatigue for their shortcomings. 

Prior to that, they were held to a goalless draw at home against a resilient Beijing Guoan FC, thwarting their chances for a second consecutive league triumph. Despite going unbeaten in two league matches, their performance across all competitions has left much to be desired, as they are winless in their last three matches (L2 D1) and will be aiming to bounce back to winning ways.

With four points accumulated from two matches played, Shandong Taishan currently sits in third place in the Chinese Super League standings within the AFC Champions League qualifier spot and is two points adrift of first-placed Shanghai Shenhua

Formation: 4-4-2

D. Wang; Y. Liu, Z. Zheng, Jadson, L. Tong; V. Kazaishvili, Y. Li, Z. Gao, Fernandinho; Crysan, X. Peng

Shanghai Shenhua, on the other hand, has made a notable impression this season as they are the only side to experience an unblemished start, securing two consecutive wins without conceding a goal.

In their last league match, they dispatched newly promoted Qingdao West Coast 2-0 at home, which signaled their second consecutive win by the same margin. The Flower of Shanghai will be aiming for a third consecutive win, which will also cement their position at the top by securing a hard-fought victory against a side they defeated 1-0 at home in the previous season.

With six points accumulated from two matches played, Shanghai Shenhua currently sits in first place and has maintained a two-point cushion over their opponents in this impending encounter. 

Formation: 4-2-2-2

Y. Bao; W. Manafá, S. Jiang, C.J. Zhu, S. Jin; I. Amadou, X. Wu; H. Xu, J. Teixeira; A. Luis, C. Malele

• Shandong Taishan have won two of their last seven matches across all competitions.
• Shanghai Shenhua has kept three consecutive clean sheets across all competitions.
• Shandong Taishan averages 2 goals per game when playing at home, and Shanghai Shenhua averages 1.3 goals per game when playing away.

In the last 35 meetings, Shandong Taishan has won 15 times, Shanghai Shenhua has won 12 times, and there have been 8 draws, with the goal difference being 50-37 in favor of Shandong Taishan. 

Shandong Taishan's elimination from the AFC Champions League might be a blessing in disguise, as this allows them to turn their attention to the league where they've made a promising start, going unbeaten in their last two matches.

In this fixture, Shandong Taishan are currently on a two-match winning streak at home, which makes them favorites with bookmakers to secure maximum points. However, they go up against a side that could turn out to be formidable, making their victory doubtful. Therefore, we expect the total number of corners to exceed 9, as it appears to be the most reliable wager in a fiercely contested match such as this.

• Corners - Over 9 for 2.10
• Total - Under 2.5 for 1.92
• X for 3.62