In search of a third consecutive victory, Shanghai Port welcome Chengdu Qianbao to the Shanghai Stadium on Thursday in round 18 of the 2022 Chinese Super League season.

On the other hand, the visitors will be looking to return to winning ways having been denied a third victory on the bounce last time out.

Match preview

Shanghai Port saw off the threat of Guangzhou City courtesy of a comfortable 2-0 triumph when the teams faced off at the Changchun Stadium on Sunday.

Ivan Leko's men opened the scoring through Shenchao Wang just past the half-hour mark before Cherif Ndiaye doubled his side's lead 10 minutes later.

As a result, the Red Eagles have moved up to fourth place in the league table, two points behind city rivals Shanghai Shenhua in the race for the last continental spot.

Coming up next is a first-ever meeting against an opposing outfit featuring in their maiden top-flight campaign since 2018, when they were formed.

Having won three of their most recent four games on home turf without conceding, Thursday's hosts will be aiming to put on a solid display at both ends of the pitch once again.

Chengdu Qianbao had to make do with a share of the spoils in Sunday's encounter against Henan Songshan Longmen, which ended in a goalless stalemate.

Seo Jung-won's men were in the ascendancy for the majority of the contest but failed to find the all-important breakthrough needed to claim all three points.

Missing out on an opportunity to climb up to sixth place, the Sichuan-based side remain eighth in the standings, four spots and three points behind their next opponents.

Currently with the third-best record on the road in the division this term, Thursday's visitors now set out to secure another feather in the cap away from home.

Team News

Chengdu midfielder Tim Chow is set to return to action in this one having served a one-game ban against Henan Songshan Longmen.

Despite coming off with a first-half injury in the victory over Changchun Yatai, Richard Windbichler lasted the full 90 minutes last time out and is expected to retain his place in the starting XI.

With just one appearance under his belt since the turn of the year, Ablahan Haliq remains ruled out for Shanghai Port as he continues to battle with a long-term muscle problem.

Twenty-four-year-old Huachen Zhang is now eligible to feature for the hosts after missing his side's victory over Guangzhou through suspension.

Shanghai Port possible starting lineup:
Yan; Wang, Browning, Wei, Li; Xu, Cai; Paulinho, Vargas, Lu; Ndiaye

Chengdu Qianbao possible starting lineup:
Zhang; Hu, Windbichler, Liu; Tang, Iminqari, Gan, Kim; Romulo, Guichao; Saldanha

We say: Shanghai Port 2-1 Chengdu Qianbao

The teams both come into this one on a decent run of results, so we are expecting a cracking and end-to-end affair. That said, we are also tipping the home side to come away with a narrow win at the end of the 90 minutes here.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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