Unsurprisingly, Coach Slutsky will, as usual, eschew the conventional four-back system on the defensive end. Chen Jinyi, Manafa, Zhu Chenjie and the newly returned national soccer star Jiang Shenglong will form a solid backline. Among them, Zhu Chenjie and Jiang Shenglong are paired in the center backs; while the powerful foreign flyhalf Manafa and Chen Jinyi will share the wings as the side backs. The national soccer team has prepared Yang Zexiang as a replacement. Of particular interest is the performance of foreign flyhalf Manafa, who has just returned.
In the midfield battle, Shanghai Shenhua's center back core, Wu Xi, a former national football team captain, will undoubtedly continue to be responsible for interceptions and steals. Partnering Wu Xi will be local star Wang Haijian. Frenchman Amadou will continue to miss out due to injury. Given that the ace foreigner Teixeira will not be able to play due to a ban, it is expected that international star Xie Pengfei will replace him as the core of the offense. Xu Haoyang and Brazilian foreign aid Andre Luiz are expected to form the attacking wings on both sides of Xie Pengfei.
Up front, the 37-year-old homegrown ace striker is expected to lead Shanghai Shenhua's charge given Malalele's recent slump in form. Mallet will be on standby as a substitute. All things considered, Shanghai Shenhua's starting lineup against Ulsan HD is expected to be Bao Yaxiong; Chen Jinyi, Manafa, Zhu Chenjie and Jiang Shenglong; Wang Haijian and Wu Xi; Xu Hao Yang, Xie Pengfei, and Andre Luiz.
