Jiangsu Suning vs Shandong Luneng Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Two 0-0 draws in a row is never ideal, but such results did act as a platform from which to build,. However, Jiangsu failed to move forward last time out, as they lost 3-2 away against Guangzhou. For once, away from home they offered more in the final third, but their run of clean sheets finally came to an end. Manager Cosmin Olăroiu will be hoping to see his side regain their defensive solidity now that they’re back in front of a home crowd, where they’ve kept three clean sheets on the spin in the league.

Unlike the hosts, who’re now without a league win in three matches, Shandong, who currently sit second in the table, have been going along very nicely of late. The visitors will arrive at Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre having won their last league match, beating Changchun by two goals to nil on the road, while they’re now unbeaten in eight matches, five of which they’ve won. Such form bodes well for a team who’ve got their eye on the top prize.

Given their overall form and where they’re in the table, it’s not overly difficult to fancy the visitors ahead of this match, though the hosts, despite not being all that amazing offensively, are no mugs on their own patch. In fact, from a defensive point of view, Jiangsu have been one of the best teams in the entire division at home during the current campaign. Interestingly, no team in the Chinese Super league has conceded less goals at home than Jiangsu, who’ve been breached just four times in six home games this season.

Saturday’s hosts have also kept a clean sheet in exactly 50% of their matches at Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre this season. Having conceded just two goals in their last five on home soil, they may just fancy their chances of keeping the visitors quiet on this occasion. Although they have scored a few goals on home soil this season, notching eleven in six, a total which is the sixth best in the division, the hosts may find it tough to really get at a Shandong side who’ve defended well away from home of late, though they should be capable of doing another good job at the back.

The visitors have been in good form, but they’ve not exactly been running away with games of late, while they’re finding it hard to score lots of goals. Shandong have scored more than once in only two of their last five, though fortunately they’ve not conceded more than once in any of those five.

At the end of the day, Jiangsu are useful on their own patch and Shandong can certainly compete on the road, though neither have been too threatening in the final third, while they’re both among the best in the division from a defensive point of view in their respective home and away matches. Keeping this in mind, the pair may just cancel each other out somewhat, so it is ‘Under 2.5 Goals’, a bet which has landed in each of Jiangsu’s last three at home, that stands out.