Shanghai Port FC vs Nantong Zhiyun FC Prediction: A Convincing Defeat For The Visitors Undoubtedly On The Cards

Shanghai Port FC welcomes Nantong Zhiyun FC to the Pudong Football Stadium in the 12th round of the Super League.

Will Nantong Zhiyun FC be able to build on their momentum to record their second consecutive victory against a formidable side, or will they be met with a convincing defeat on the road?

Let's have a look at the latest Chinese Super League predictions between Shanghai Port FC vs Nantong Zhiyun FC, probable lineups, match facts, and betting odds for you to consider!

Shanghai Port FC

Form: LWWWW

The Red Eagles were brought down to earth in their recent match against Chengdu Rongcheng FC at home, as they couldn't live up to the billing of favorites and succumbed to a narrow 1:0 defeat, mainly owing to an unfortunate own goal from their end.

Prior to that, they displayed a dominant performance on the road in their match against Changchun Yatai FC, as first-half goals from Issa Kallon, Paulinho, and Oscar ensured that no points were dropped as they claimed a 3:0 triumph.

While their loss against Chengdu Rongcheng FC saw them record their first loss since the start of the season, they were on an emphatic run that had them on a five-match winning streak, accumulating 15 points, and it's without a shadow of doubt that they will seek to get back to winning ways again.

They currently occupy first place with 26 points and have maintained a three-point lead over Chengdu Rongcheng FC in second place. Securing all three points here could see them consolidate their position.

Probable Starting XI

Formation: 4-2-1-3

Yan; Wang, Browning, Zhang, Li; Muzepper, Cai; Oscar; Kallon, Paulinho, Lei

Nantong Zhiyun FC

Form: WLLDL

Nantong Zhiyun FC managed to get the better of Qingdao Hainiu FC in their recent match at home as they claimed a narrow 1:0 victory, though it wasn't a walkthrough as their opponent proved to be quite a competitive side.

Prior to that, they were up against Chengdu Rongcheng FC on the road, and while they didn't expect much from their performance in that match as they suffered a 1:0 defeat, they did manage to avert a disastrous outcome by deploying a defensive front against a side that has been in free-scoring mode.

In their last five matches, their form has been flooded with inconsistency, as they have only accumulated a meager four points from three losses, a win, and a draw, and during that time have conceded eight goals while scoring only two, making for improvement in both aspects. 

While they were in the relegation zone, they now find themselves currently occupying 14th place with 9 points, level on points with Meizhou Hakka FC in 13th place, and are only one point clear of the relegation zone.

Probable Starting XI

Formation: 3-4-3

Shi; W Lui, Bressan, H Lui; Shinar, Li, Yang, Jiang; Balde, Wang, Castillo

Match Facts

• Shanghai Port FC have only lost one of their last five home matches in the Super League.
• Nantong Zhiyun FC were on a five-match winless run in the Super League.
• Shanghai Port FC averages 1.8 goals per game when playing at home, and Nantong Zhiyun FC averages 0.8 goals per game when playing away.

Head-To-Head

This will be the first Super League meeting between these two sides.

Expert Betting Tips

Shanghai Port FC are overwhelming favorites with bookmakers to see off the threat of a side that's still trying to find its footing in a competitive league, and with home advantage at their disposal, this is undoubtedly their chance to rebound with a convincing win.

Nantong Zhiyun FC will definitely not get ahead of themselves in this fixture despite feeling confident following their recent win against Qingdao Hainiu FC, as they know that it won't be easy for them to build up on their momentum to record a resounding result against a formidable opponent, making a convincing defeat a foregone conclusion given their recent struggles against top teams in the league.

While there's no value in picking them up in the full-time market due to their low, unappealing odds, a half-time win should be enough to surface here as they are undoubtedly the better side on paper, and class coupled with quality is expected to play a pivotal role in them recording a commanding victory.

• Half-time Result - Shanghai Port FC for 1.72
• Handicap 1 (-1.5) for 1.75
• Goals - Over 2.5 for 1.62