Dalian Young Boy FC
- Dalian Young Boy FC sit 3rd in the Chinese Super League 2026 table with 25 points from 17 matches, just one point above Shandong Luneng Taishan FC who are 4th with 24 points from 18.
- Dalian Young Boy FC are 2 wins and 1 defeat in their last 3 home games, so they are tough to topple in their own backyard.
- Dalian Young Boy FC boss Guoxu Li has been in charge of the side since June 2022 and has installed a survival-first structure in the club that has been working well.
- They are a compact 4-2-3-1/4-4-2 side and are able to drop into a 5-4-1 block when necessary.
Shandong Luneng Taishan FC
- Shandong Luneng Taishan FC boss Maozhen Su has taken the reins of the club in February 2026 and started to implement a more structured, control-based game.
- Shandong are a 3-4-2-1 side at their core, and will often try to overwhelm opponents with their wingbacks in a 4-2-3-1 when in possession, but they don't lack a punch up front either.
- The visitors have scored 12 goals on their travels in the Chinese Super League 2026, averaging 1.33 goals per game away from home.
- Shandong Luneng Taishan FC have 4 wins and 5 defeats in their 9 away games, so this one smells like a tough away game.
Head-to-Head
The visitors haven't won their last away game against Dalian, so the hosts have the mental edge in this matchup.
Key Players
- Striker Cryzan has scored 11 goals in 13 appearances in the Chinese Super League 2026, making him a clear danger man.
- Zeca has scored 7 of his team's 14 goals in the last 5 games though, so he's the man on a red-hot streak.
- Cephas Malele is a lethal finisher with 7 goals in 13 Chinese Super League 2026 appearances.
Betting Insights
- Dalian are the favorites at 2.15, just ahead of Shandong at 3.13, with the draw priced at 3.79.
- Dalian's home record of 6 wins and 3 defeats in 9 games in the Chinese Super League 2026 is pretty solid and should give them confidence for this contest.
- Dalian's defence has conceded 13 goals in the Chinese Super League 2026, an average of 1.44 per game, so they can be breached.
Prediction
- With the home side's quality in the attacking third, I think they nick it, but the odds suggest this is a pretty close game, and the odds in the over/under and both teams to score markets do not suit either side.
- I am going for Under 2.5 goals at 2.54 and Both Teams To Score No at 2.63.
