In the 14th round of the 2022 Chinese Super League season, a key battle between Shanghai Seaport and Zhejiang kicked off at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 20 at the Dalian Sports Center Stadium.
[Focus on Shanghai Harbor]
In the 13th round of the Chinese Super League so far, Shanghai Seaport has 6 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses, and ranks seventh with 20 points, even though it has played one less game. The team's form has picked up in the last two rounds, with an away draw against Dalian Ren and a home win against Shenzhen. Although there is still a six-point gap with Songshan Longmen in the AFC Champions League, there is a 17-point difference with first-place Sanzhen. Seaport is undefeated in two matches in Dalian after resuming the home-and-away system, however, the team's overall performance has not yet reached its best.
In the pre-match press conference, coach Leko said that the team's preparations are going well, and that the team has analyzed the last game thoroughly and found the performance commendable, and expects the team to have a better performance in this game. Facing the Zhejiang team, which has won three consecutive matches in recent years and has kept zero goals conceded, Leko emphasized that the team needs to give its best in training and matches to meet the challenge in the best condition.
[Zhejiang Team News]
In the 13th round of the Chinese Super League, Zhejiang played two fewer matches, with a record of 5 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses, and ranked ninth with 18 points. Zhejiang has been in hot form lately, winning their last three games by 2-0 scores, all in Haikou, beating Dalian Ren, Guangzhou City and Shenzhen. While only two points behind Shanghai Seaport, the gap to the top six is only three points. However, the team suffered postponements in both rounds of the Lions and Guangzhou, and the half-month-long layoff makes it doubtful whether the team can continue its good form.
Coach Jordy said in the pre-match conference that the coaching team has a clear idea and preparation in place to face a strong opponent, both domestic and foreign players. The team's goal in every game is to fight for three points, and will go all out in tomorrow's game.
[Historical encounter]
Shanghai Seaport's predecessor, Terriers, and Zhejiang's predecessor, Hangzhou Greentown, have met nine times in the Chinese Super League (CSL) and the Football Association Cup (F.A.C. Cup), with Seaport leading the way with six wins, one draw, and two losses. The two teams have met eight times in the Chinese Super League, with Seaport leading the way with six wins, one draw and one loss. In the recent CSL clash between Seaport and Zhejiang, Seaport has won 6 and drawn 1 out of the last 7 meetings, and has won all of the last 3 meetings.
[Projected starting lineup]
Shanghai Harbour: 1 Yan Junling; 4 Stanley Wang, 13 Wei Zhen, 5 Zhang Linpeng; 6 Cai Huikang; 11 Lu Wenjun, 16 Xu Xin, 9 Paulinho, 29 Zhang Huachen, 15 Li Shenyuan; 10 Ndiaye
Zhejiang: 1-Gu Chao; 28-Yue Xin, 36-Lucas, 2-Liang Nuoheng, 19-Dong Yu; 29-Zhang Jiaqi; 22-Cheng Jin, 11-Frank, 6-Yao Junsheng, 9-Gaodi; 7-Evolo
