Looking to strengthen their case for an unlikely top-two finish in Group C, Bahrain will welcome strugglers China to Bahrain National Stadium in Riffa for an AFC World Cup qualifying clash on Thursday night.
Dilmun Warriors recorded back-to-back draws over the October international break, whilst the Dragon Team picked up their maiden victory of the third round last time out.
Match preview
Since a round-of-16 exit at the hands of continental giants Japan at the Asian Cup in January, Bahrain have strung together an impressive run of form under new management in 2026 World Cup qualifying, with Thursday's hosts losing just one of eight matches on their quest for a spot in North America.
Dilmun Warriors produced arguably the shock performance and result of the third round to date back in September, when a diligent defensive display and a late-gasp Harry Souttar own goal handed the visitors to Australia a shock three points, bringing an end to Graham Arnold's time in charge of the Socceroos.
Bahrain also managed a commendable result during the October international break, with Dragan Talajic's troops keeping a clean sheet at the home of Saudi Arabia on October 15, when 32-year-old goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfalla crucially saved a penalty from Al-Hilal star Salem Al-Dawsari.
Approaching the middle point of third-round qualification, Bahrain are currently occupying fourth spot in a highly-competitive Group C, with the Dilmun Warriors level on points with Tony Popovic's Socceroos and Saudi Arabia in second and third respectively, with leaders Japan five points ahead of their section rivals.
Bagging the opening and equalising goal during the dramatic four-goal thriller at Bahrain National Stadium against Indonesia last month, left-winger Mohamed Marhoon is drawing close to 50 caps for his nation, with the Kuwait SC star hoping to add to his goal tally against Group C strugglers China on Thursday.
Due to a group-stage exit at this year's Asian Cup in Qatar and a less-than-convincing World Cup qualification campaign to date, China have tasted victory on just two occasions in 11 competitive attempts so far in 2024, with Thursday's visitors to Bahrain at risk of being cut adrift at the bottom of Group C.
That being said, the Dragon Team managed to land their first major punch in the third round of qualifying most recently on October 15, when goals apiece from a two-man forward line of Bakram Abduweli and Yuning Zhang were enough to secure maximum points versus Indonesia.
With the visit of unbeaten group leaders Japan to come later in this international window, it is imperative that China earn a positive result at Bahrain National Stadium on Thursday night, but the highly-populated nation last won an away fixture nearly 12 months ago at the home of minnows Thailand.
Heading into the final international window of the calendar year and with six matches left to play in the third round, the Dragon Team are rooted to the bottom of the Group C standings with three points from four matches - only North Korea (2) and Palestine (2) have collected fewer across the sections so far.
Taking charge of the squad back in February following their lacklustre performance at the Asian Cup, former Dinamo Zagreb and Iran head coach Branko Ivankovic is now in charge of China, who have won just two of his opening eight competitive fixtures.
Team News
After keeping a clean sheet at Saudi Arabia in their most recent match, Bahrain should stick with a centre-back pairing of Waleed Al Hayam and Amine Benaddi in front of penalty-saving Lutfalla.
There could be some alterations in attack for the Dilmun Warriors following their failure to find the net in Jeddah, meaning that Kamil Al-Aswad could drop out of the XI.
An experienced campaigner for Bahrain since making his debut in January 2019, Mahdi Al Humaidan will be knocking on the manager's door for a start on Thursday night.
Both providing brilliant assists during the success over Indonesia, defenders Zhunyi Gao and Shenglong Jiang will retain their spots in China's back four.
Protecting the backline from the middle of the park, engine room enforcers Shangyuan Wang and Yuanyi Li will contribute plenty of knowhow for the visitors.
Bahrain possible starting lineup:
Lutfalla; Al-Shamsan, Benaddi, Al Hayam, El Khalassy; Madan, Haram, Saeed, Marhoon; Hasan, Al Humaidan
China possible starting lineup:
Wang; Gao, Browning, Jiang, Li; Xie, Wang, Li, Wei; Abduweli, Zhang
We say: Bahrain 1-0 China
Recording standout results against Australia and Saudi Arabia so far in Group C, Bahrain will be confident of putting basement dwellers China to the sword on Thursday night.
The Dragon Team enjoyed a morale-boosting success on home soil last time out, but we cannot envisage them earning a rare away result in Riffa.
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