Shanghai SIPG continue their search for a first Chinese Super League title this season. Their best finish to date is second place in 2015 but having received significant investment, Shanghai SIPG will be hoping to finish top this season. Currently sitting in second place in the league, Shanghai SIPG are only 3 points behind league leaders Guangzhou Evergrande. Shanghai SIPG must win this game to keep the pressure on the league leaders, who have an easier looking away fixture this week.
Hebei CFFC are currently participating in only their second Chinese Super League campaign following promotion in 2015. Last season they finished in seventh place and will be hoping to go at least one better this time around.
Hebei CFFC start this match in sixth place, 9 points behind Shanghai SIPG.
Hebei CFFC Form
Hebei CFFC broke a dreadful run of form by picking up their first win in 8 competitive games on the weekend. Prior to the 3-0 victory over Yanbian Funde, Hebei CFFC had lost 6 games and picked up a single draw.
One of those defeats was at Guangzhou Evergrande in the FA Cup but league form has also been poor of late. There have been defeats to Guangzhou Evergrande, Henan Jianye, Chongqing Lifan, Guizhou Zhicheng and Shanghai Shenhua.
Three of those defeats came at the hands of teams below Hebei CFFC in the league table.
However, at home Hebei CFFC have lost only 2 matches in the league this season and have picked up 7 wins.
Shanghai SIPG Form
Shanghai SIPG picked up a point at home to Tianjin Quanjian on the weekend in a 0-0 draw. This was the third time these teams have played each other in the past three weeks and Shanghai SIPG overturned a 3-0 deficit in the FA Cup by winning 4-0 at home last Thursday night.
Recent form has been mixed in the Chinese Super League, with just 1 victory in their last 5 games. There have been defeats to Changchun Yatai and Shandong Luneng, draws with Guangzhou Evergrande and Tianjin Quanjian and a win over Yanbian Funde.
Away from home in the Chinese Super League Shanghai SIPG have a decent record, winning 4, drawing 3 and losing 3 of their 10 games to date.
Team News
Hebei CFFC will be relying on their South American strike force of Ezequiel Lavezzi and Aloisio to get them goals in this game. They are set to start in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Dong Xuesheng up-front. Shanghai SIPG are likely to start in a 4-3-3 formation with Hulk, Elkesen and Wu Lei leading the attack.
Top Betting Tips
This is an intriguing game between two teams who have been inconsistent recently in the Chinese Super League. Shanghai SIPG need the win to keep pace at the top but may be forced to settle for a point. The draw is 5/2 with Ladbrokes.
Shanghai SIPG have scored in all 10 of their away league games this season and Hebei CFFC will find it difficult to keep them out. However, the hosts have failed to score just once at home this season. Both teams to score is 4/7 at Ladbrokes.
Despite having the popular Brazilian duo of Hulk and Elkesen in their team, Wu Lei is Shanghai SIPG’s top scorer this season. The Chinese international can be backed at 21/10 with Ladbrokes to score at any time.