Johor vs Shanghai Port prediction, H2H and probable lineups – December 9, 2025
One of the matches of AFC Champions League group stage round 6 will take place on Tuesday at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Johor Bahru. The local side Johor will host China's Shanghai Port. Here’s my take on the likely outcome, based on both teams’ current form and motivation.
Match preview
The Malaysian giants are once again proving that they simply have no equals on the domestic front. Johor sit atop the league table, leading their nearest rivals by at least seven points. In addition, the club has shown consistency in the Champions League, collecting 7 points and winning three consecutive home matches.
What’s especially crucial is that Johor regularly play attacking football, often scoring two or more goals per match. At home, the team looks confident and always plays on the front foot. Over their last 16 official fixtures, Johor have lost just once, racking up 13 victories along the way. Such statistics inspire confidence and firmly establish Johor as favorites here, especially given their opponent’s vulnerabilities.
Shanghai Port finished their domestic campaign on a high, making a late surge to clinch the title. However, the international stage has been a different story—just one point from five matches, bottom of the group, and a shaky defensive display. In the previous round, they lost at home to Seoul by a two-goal margin, underlining their current organizational issues.
The away trip makes things even tougher—Shanghai must contend not only with a fired-up Johor side but also a heated atmosphere in the stands. Importantly, the team has managed just two wins in their last five games, lacking any real consistency. In this scenario, betting on the visitors is simply too risky.
Probable lineups
- Johor: Hazmi, Davies, Fazail, Jairo, Saad, Arribas, Bergson, Mendes, Pak, Silva, Teto
- Shanghai Port: Wang Shenchao, Wei Zhen, Zhang Linpeng, Yusup Umidjan, Li Shuai, Kuai Jiwen, Matheus Jussa, Mateus Vital, Li Xi, Lu Wenjun
Match facts and head-to-head
- The previous meeting between these teams ended in a 2-2 draw.
- Johor have won six straight home matches across all competitions.
- Shanghai Port have picked up only two wins in their last five games.
Prediction
The Malaysian side have every chance to finish the group stage on a high, especially on home turf where they play with confidence and attacking flair. Meanwhile, Shanghai Port look out of sorts and have failed to impress on the continental stage. Taking all this into account, the optimal pick is Johor to win with a -1.0 handicap at odds of 1.62.
