Sports Mole previews Friday’s Chinese Super League clash between Meizhou Hakka and Beijing Guoan, including predictions, team news and possible line-ups.
Freshly promoted Meizhou Hakka will welcome Beijing Guoan for their Chinese Super League clash at the Wuhua County Olympic Sports Center on Friday.
The hosts are currently 11th in the table with five points from their first three games, while the visitors are sixth with six points, four points behind the leaders.
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After consecutive 1-1 draws in their first two league games, Meizhou Hakka secured all three points as they beat Shenzhen 2-1 away on Monday.
Yang YilinThe opener in the 41st minute was canceled by the Frenchman four minutes after the break Romain Alessandrinibut the guests managed to snag all three points in the dying embers when Nebojsa Kosovic scored a dramatic winner in the 91st minute.
Milan Ristic will have been pleased with his side’s performances to date, considering they are playing in the top flight for the first time in their history after finishing second in the second division last season.
Meizhou have never played Beijing Guoan but they hope to at least continue their unbeaten streak with a positive performance in front of their home crowd on Friday.
Beijing Guoan suffered a 2-1 home loss to Cangzhou Mighty Lions on the opening day of the season, but they have since won back-to-back wins against Rongcheng and Tianjin Jinmen Tiger.
An eventful 3-2 away win over Rongcheng, which saw the hosts reduced to eight men, was followed by a narrow 1-0 home win over Tianjin on Monday Markus Dabro came off the bench and scored his first goal for the club in the 86th minute.
The 25-year-old forward joined the club from NK Lokomotiva Zagreb in April after scoring 13 goals in 30 games for the Croatian side last season.
Gouan head coach Xie Feng now hopes his side can build on their recent results as they battle for their first top-flight title since 2009.
Form of Meizhou Hakka Chinese Super League:
Form of Beijing Guoan Chinese Super League:
Team News
Meizhou’s newcomer Rade Dugalic should start again as a central defender on the side Liao Junjianshielding goalkeeper Yuhou.
Nebojsa Kosovic, Shi Liang and Rodrigo Henrique could all keep their places in central midfield, with the latter allowed to roam further forward and support the central striker Chisome Egbuchulamwho is still looking for his first goal of the season this season.
As for Beijing Guoan, head coach Xie Feng might decide to stay with the same team and 4-4-2 formation after clinching the win last time.
Featuring the former Brentford midfielder Nico Yennari still recovering from injury, centre-back Samir Memisevic another start in central midfield could be given next door Chi Zhongguoalthough Xizhe Zhang and Tianyi Gao will also push for launch.
Meizhou Hakka possible starting line-up:
Hou: C. Yang, Liao, Dugalic, Chen; Shi, Kosovic; Y Yang, Henrique, Li; Egbuchulam
Beijing Guoan possible starting line-up:
hou; Wang, Jin, Yu, Kang; C. Zhang, Chi, Memisevic, Li; Adegbenro, Y. Zhang
We say: Meizhou Hakka 1-2 Beijing Guoan
Sentiment is high in both camps ahead of Friday’s game, but the visitors are seen as the favorites to take all three points.
Meizhou are yet to keep a clean sheet this season and they may struggle to eliminate Beijing Guoan, who should have enough quality in the last third to edge out their opponents in Guangdong.
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top tip
Our expert Tipster partners at Sporita.com predict over 1.5 goals in this game. Click here to find out what else they predict for this game and for more of their football best tips.About 1.5: data