Shanghai SIPG vs Shandong Taishan Prediction: Both Sides Have Something Meaningful To Fight For In This Encounter

Shanghai SIPG will host Shandong Taishan at the Jinjiang Football Training Center Stadium on the 32nd matchday of the Super League.

Will the Red Eagles this time turn the tables and defeat Shandong Taishan, or will they suffer a crushing defeat at home?

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

Shanghai SIPG

Form: WDWLL

Displaying their quality and class against lower-tier Suzhou Dongwu FC in the third round of the Chinese FA Cup saw them eke out an easy victory to book themselves a ticket to the next round, where they'll get to face Chengdu Rongcheng in their first-leg of the quarterfinals.

Prior to that, in their most recent Super League match, they faced off against Meizhou Hakka on the road and faced a tough challenge as they continued to press for the winning goal, but to no avail until Li Deming, who had just come off the bench, turned the game around and changed the atmosphere with a last-second gasp goal to reward his side with a crucial three points as the match concluded with a 1:0 scoreline.

With 8 points dropped in the last five matches to walk away with 7 points, things haven't looked promising at all, and it's conceivable that Xi Zhikang would have his hands full guiding his side to victory against a formidable opponent whom they've failed to defeat in their last three matches played this season, recording two losses and a draw.

Slowly rising to the occasion, they are only three points short of third place, as they currently occupy fourth place with 56 points, level on points with Chengdu Rongcheng and two points ahead of sixth-placed Beijing Guoan.

Probable Starting XI

Formation: 4-2-3-1

C. Wei (12); Y. Hai (21), T. Browning (3), Z. Linpeng (5), Y. Wang (43); Y. Wang (43), Z. Shen'ao (47); I. Kallon (34), M. Vargas (24), Z. Yang (68); C. Ndiaye (10).

Shandong Taishan

Form: WWDLW

The Taishan Dui, regardless of whether it was a commanding performance or a dominant home performance, were on another level as they unleashed their judgment upon Shenzhen FC to demolish them to an 8:0 defeat with a brace from Marouane Fellaini and a haul from Crysan, ensuring their side sealed all three points. Not to mention Magalhães and Chen, who also got one back for their team while dishing out two crucial key assists in the process.

Hao Wei's team has already proven that they are difficult to beat when playing at home, as their home form has been impressive by a wide margin. However, their away form has also been impressive, as they have won 10, lost 4, and drawn 2 of their 16 away games and will be determined to extend their unbeaten streak when playing away for three games.

It's safe to say that confidence is at an all-time high as they look to maintain that solid form by extending their unbeaten run. They have a three-match unbeaten run tag on their backs, have accumulated ten points in their last five games, and have maintained a solid form thus far.

Currently in second place with 72 points, level on points with table leaders Wuhan Three Towns, three points are their sole goal going into this game if they want to see themselves at the top of the summit, meaning a win will suffice to feed their needs.

Probable Starting XI

Formation: 4-2-3-1

W. Dalei (14); Z. Jianfei (31), K. Shi (27), Jadson (4), W. Xinghan (17); J. Jingdao (33), Moises (10); T. Xin (32), M. Fellaini (25), P. Chen (29); Crysan (9).

Match Facts

• Shanghai SIPG has scored in 7 of their 9 home Super League games.
• Shandong Taishan has scored a goal in each of their last 27 Super League matches.
• The average number of goals scored in a match between Shanghai SIPG and Shandong Taishan is three.
• When playing at home, Shanghai SIPG averages 1.78 goals per game, while Shandong Taishan averages 1.86 goals per game when playing away.

Head-To-Head

In the last 19 meetings, Shanghai SIPG has won five times, Shandong Taishan has won nine times, and there have been five draws with a goal difference of 30-25 in favor of Shandong Taishan.

Expert Betting Tips

Shanghai SIPG's average performance in games suggests that they still haven't found their rhythm, which could prove to be their downfall as they face the defending champions, who in their previous meeting in October suffered a disappointing 3:1 loss. To avoid a repeat of that fate, Shanghai SIPG will need to put on a strong performance because relying on momentum alone won't be sufficient.

When these two teams meet, a thrilling match is to be expected, and given the high stakes, it would be unrealistic for either coach not to field his strongest lineup. As such, we are focusing on both teams scoring because of the importance of this match and the need for caution when picking a winner. We don't think we'll be entertained by an unproductive match because three of their last five meetings have resulted in both teams scoring, which should indicate that we won't be.

• Both Teams To Score (Yes) for 1.84
• Goals - Over 2.5 for 1.85
• Corners - Over 9.5 for 2.18