Shanghai Port
- Shanghai Port and Henan FC begin the 2026 Chinese Super League season with a points deduction hanging over them both thanks to a crackdown on discipline.
- Port finished 2025 as the domestic heavyweights of China with a high-press, possession-based approach that Kevin Muscat has instilled into his side.
- It has brought home the big trophies, but the Australian has been guilty of leaving his side open to the odd fast break, as they were in their 0-2 Super Cup loss to Beijing Guoan in January.
Henan FC
- Henan had a patchy preseason by comparison to the hosts, who had some good results, but overhauled their squad ahead of this campaign.
- Daniel Ramos is a pragmatic manager who likes his sides to sit deep, keep things compact and be efficient on the transitions and from set-pieces.
Head-to-Head
Shanghai Port have won four of the last five competitive meetings with Henan in all competitions.
Shanghai Port
- Opposing him, Gustavo and Gabrielzinho offer pace and creativity out wide while Felippe Cardoso can link up with the Ghanaian to provide a threat from deep.
- In Leonardo, Port have the league's top scorer in 2025, and he will be their focal point once more this season.
Henan FC
Henan’s frontline will be spearheaded by Frank Acheampong , who has pace and can make direct runs that make him the most dangerous player on the pitch.
Betting Insights
- Backing ‘Over 2.5 goals’ at 1.42 looks the best way to play the ‘Total Score Over 2.5’ market in this clash, but ‘Both Teams to Score - No’ at 2.45 is my main bet because it is likely at least one of the sides will fail to get a goal.
- However, they do have the goalscorer and could pull off an upset.
Prediction
- The two teams are on opposite ends of the scale in terms of style of play and it will be interesting to see how the clash of Shanghai Port’s high press with Henan’s counter-attacking game works out.
- That should lead to a relatively open game, but one in which at least one of the teams might not be able to score a goal.
- Shanghai Port should be able to keep a clean sheet as Henan lack the quality to be a consistent threat on the break.
