Preview: Chengdu Qianbao vs. Beijing Guoan - prediction, team news, lineups
:Headline: Preview: Chengdu Qianbao vs. Beijing Guoan - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Monday's Chinese Super League clash between Chengdu Qianbao and Beijing Guoan, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Chengdu Qianbao play host to Beijing Guoan looking to extend their unbeaten record in the Chinese Super League to 14 matches.
At a time when the home side are looking to challenge for the title, Beijing are down in seventh spot in the table, nine points adrift of their next opponents.
Match preview
Having recently lost in the cup to second-tier Chongqing Tongliang Long on penalties, Chengdu cannot quite claim to be unbeatable since the beginning of this season.
Nevertheless, coming through 13 league matches without defeat is an impressive haul for Seo Jung-won, who will feel that there is far more to come from his team.
In response to the cup upset, Chengdu breezed past Shenzhen on away territory, posting a 3-0 victory and keeping a fourth consecutive clean sheet.
Chengdu still do not possess the best defensive record in the division - in fact, they are just fourth in that list - but confidence is building with just five points separating them from top spot.
That said, Seo's side have been far from perfect on home territory with three of their seven matches at the Chengdu Phoenix Hill Football Stadium ending in draws.
As for Beijing, their season can only be described as mixed at best, starting with a four-game winless streak and emerging victorious from just one of their most recent four matches.
However, Ricardo Soares - who was only appointed on June 15 - has something to work with given that Beijing still occupy seventh spot with just three defeats to their name.
The Portuguese's opening league game earlier this week ended in defeat, Beijing going down 2-1 at home to leaders Shanghai Port with an 81th-minute goal keeping things interesting during the latter stages.
Despite that setback, positives will have been taken, yet this is another of the greatest tests that this league currently has to offer and Soares will be eager for his players to quickly adapt to his style of play.
Barring any fitness issues, Seo may opt against making alterations to a Chengdu side that cruised to victory last time out.
Such was the control that they had in that fixture that players were able to be rested during the closing stages, although Felipe Silva remained on the pitch after making it five goals and three assists from 13 outings this campaign.
Nebijan Muhmet could be handed a start for Beijing after being required to replace Yang Liyu after just 17 minutes versus Shanghai.
Hao Fang may also be considered for his first start of the season after the winger came off the substitutes' bench to net his first goal of the campaign in that fixture.
Chengdu Qianbao possible starting lineup: Geng; Liu, Windbichler, Hu; M. Tang, Chow, Gan, X.T ang; Palacios, Silva, Elkeson
Having lost jut three times this season, we cannot rule out Beijing earning a share of the spoils in this contest, maybe even a narrow win. However, Chengdu have the momentum, and the extra belief in the final third may prove pivotal during the closing quarter of the match.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data
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