With only one day left, Shandong Taishan and Yokohama Mariners will face off at the top of the table. Yokohama Mariners are not Shandong Taishan's newest rivals, but they have beaten them twice in the AFC Champions League. Although Yokohama Mariners had a strong momentum in the group stage, it was a far cry from Shandong Taishan's form. Prior to the match, Shandong Taishan actively prepared for the match, but Zheng Zheng was nowhere to be seen. He is likely to miss the game due to injury, which will make the backline of Jia Desong and Shi Ke a huge challenge. Shandong Taishan will need to build up a quick advantage in the game to deal with the Yokohama Mariners' powerful offense.
Shandong Taishan's performance in the Chinese Super League is impeccable and they are the favorites to win the title every year. However, in the AFC Champions League, the Chinese Super League is not as influential as the Japanese J-League. Currently, there are obvious holes in Shandong Taishan's defense, and Shi Ke's performance has displeased Cui Kangxi. Zheng Zheng's absence also makes the team look stretched in training.
Facing the challenge of Yokohama Mariners, Shandong Taishan can't hope to simply play defense. They must attack up front to take the pressure off the defense. Choi Kang-hee's tactics require his team to press aggressively in front of the field and counterattack quickly. The home field advantage will be an advantage for Shandong Taishan, who must capitalize on the early stages of the game and try to score first.
All five foreigners will be on the field for this match. Fellaini and Cressan will be the core of the team's offense, while Moises will be the midfield commander. Jadson is the backbone of the team's defense, and as for Pato, his form has improved, but whether he can play a key role is still in doubt. The return of Liu Yang and Liu Binbin will definitely add vitality to the team. Shandong Taishan will need to make full use of their height advantage and focus on the speed and passing quality of their wing players in order to win this tough match.
