Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the fixtures of the 15th round of the Chinese Super League will take place on Wednesday in Changchun, where the local side Changchun Yatai will host Qingdao West Coast. I’m offering a bet on the outcome of this clash with an attractive odds.
Match preview
It’s hard to talk about Changchun Yatai these days without a sense of bitterness. The team is languishing at the bottom of the Super League table, seemingly clueless about how to claw their way out of this rut. In recent matches, their defense has resembled a sieve—27 goals conceded in 14 rounds speaks volumes, and up front, their attack relies on occasional flashes of brilliance that do little to change the overall picture.
Five straight defeats in their last five matches, with barely a hint of structure or team spirit on the pitch. Losing Robert Beric to a fracture is another blow to their already struggling attack, as scoring has been a major challenge for Yatai this season. At home, they look a bit livelier, but it's still not enough to compete even against the league’s mid-table sides.
Qingdao West Coast can’t boast perfect form either, but compared to Yatai, they look far more solid. Their defense still has issues—23 goals conceded—but their overall organization and discipline are much better than their opponents'. True, they haven't won in their last five league outings—three draws and two losses—but if you include cup matches, they've only lost once in their last five games.
In the previous round, they lost away to Beijing Guoan 0-1. Overall, Qingdao have maintained their structure and character, which has allowed them to pick up points even in tough situations. They play more cautiously on the road, but against Changchun Yatai, this might be exactly the scenario where their away discipline pays off.
Probable lineups
- Changchun Yatai: Wu Yake, Abduheni Abduhamit, Sunzu S., Rosic L., Li Sh., Yao Xiuchen, Xu Yifan, Piao Taoyu, Yan Zhiyu, Beric R., Tan Long.
- Qingdao West Coast: Li H. (gk), Yang E., Riccelli (c), Wang Peng, Zhang Ch., Daluz N., Xu Bin, Mateus Indio, Davidson, Zhang S., Aziz.
Match facts and head-to-head
- The last meeting between these teams in May ended in a 2-2 draw.
- In October last year, Changchun Yatai thrashed Qingdao 4-0.
- Qingdao West Coast are unbeaten away to Changchun Yatai in their last two visits.
Prediction
Changchun Yatai are a prime example of how a crisis can drag on. Their defense is wide open, their attack can’t change the game, and the loss of one of their few attacking threats makes things even gloomier. Qingdao, by contrast, look more organized and determined, even if not always consistent. Our bet: Qingdao West Coast to win with a (0) handicap at odds of 1.60.
