Hebei CFFC vs Shanghai Shenhua Predictions

Just one point and one place separate fourth from bottom Hebei CFFC and their guests Shanghai Shenhua who sit one position below them in the CSL table and one of them could slip into the relegation zone this weekend. Neither of the two teams heads into Friday’s clash in good form, with both hoping to end a run of two or three games without a win, but when these two teams lock horns they so often produced exciting action-packed games and plenty of goals.

Hebei CFFC played host to fellow bottom-half of the table dwellers Shenzhen last weekend, where despite dominating the ninety minutes the home side were unable to pick up the three points their performance deserved. The sides went in level at the break goalless but shortly after the hour mark Dong Xuesheng put the hosts in front. However, Hebei CFFC could not hold onto their lead and deep into stoppage time the visitors snatched a dramatic equaliser courtesy of their one and only shot on target.

Shanghai Shenhua made the short trip to title-challenging Shanghai SIPG last time out where a solitary strike from Hulk saw the hosts leading 1-0 at the interval. The Brazilian doubled his tally in the sixty-second minute but an own goal from He Guan looked to have brought the visitors right back into the match. However, two minutes after making the scoreline 2-1 Wang Shenchao restored Shanghai SIPG’s two-goal lead and the game ended in a 3-1 defeat for the visitors.

The head to head record between these two clubs and both teams performances over the last six weeks, suggests that both teams will score and over 2.5 goals will be scored on Friday and that Hebei CFFC are best placed to claim all three points. The last six meetings between these two clubs have seen both teams score and over 2.5 goals, and Hebei CFFC have won three of the last five encounters between the pair. Three of Hebei CFFC’s and three of Shanghai Shenhua’s last six matches have seen both teams score and over 2.5 goals. The visitors have lost four of their last six away games, which is why we’re backing Hebei CFFC to win 3-2 on Friday.

Dong Xuesheng top scores for the hoss with five CSL goals this season, while Ighalo leads the way for the visitors with seven league goals but won’t feature on Friday due to international duty. We’re confident that both teams will score and over 2.5 goals will be produced in Friday’s match and have predicted a final scoreline of 3-2 to Hebei CFFC. The hosts edge the form guide and have won the last two encounters between the two clubs, while the visitors have a number of injuries and are without their top scorer due to international commitments.