Shijiazhuang Gongfu FC
- Shijiazhuang Gongfu FC have won just 1 and lost 4 of their last 5 home games in all competitions.
- Shijiazhuang Gongfu FC have had a poor season overall and have failed to pick up a win or a draw from their last 2 games in front of their own fans.
- They have won just 2, drawn 2 and lost 6 of their last 10 in all competitions and, although they drew 0-0 away to Dalian K'un City last time out, manager Cheng Liu has his work cut out to reverse the team's slide.
- A 0-1 defeat to Meizhou Hakka at home prior to that game shows just how deep-seated Gongfu's problems are, but the FA Cup 2026 will provide the side with a great chance to test themselves against top-level opposition and potentially cause a local upset.
- Gongfu are disciplined and compact, preferring to sit in a 4-1-4-1 or 4-2-3-1, where they are organized and strong in transition and rely on their midfielders and wingers to hit on the break.
Shanghai Shenhua
- Shanghai Shenhua have failed to win their last 5 matches (3 draws, 2 defeats).
- As you would expect, Super League outfit Shanghai Shenhua have been priced up as heavy favorites at 1.56 for this game, but Shijiazhuang are a massive 5.91.
- The Super League side are in mixed form themselves, winning just 3 of their last 10 across all competitions (3 draws, 4 defeats).
- They have struggled on the road lately, taking 1 win, 1 draw and 2 defeats from their last 4 on their travels.
- However, Leonid Slutsky has introduced a more fluid 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 since he took the reigns at the end of 2023 which has been more attack- minded and much more suited to his players.
- Shenhua's pressing and tempo is much higher and in-form attacker Chenjie Zhu has been a big part of that, netting 3 of Shenhua's 7 goals in their last 5.
- Shenhua do concede too many goals though, which is why we're not expecting a comfortable margin of victory.
Key Players
Shenhua's pressing and tempo is much higher and in-form attacker Chenjie Zhu has been a big part of that, netting 3 of Shenhua's 7 goals in their last 5 .
Betting Insights
- As you would expect, Super League outfit Shanghai Shenhua have been priced up as heavy favorites at 1.56 for this game, but Shijiazhuang are a massive 5.91.
- Backing over 2.5 goals is a decent alternative to the moneyline at 1.67, as we feel this clash between a defensive block and an aggressive press should see the visitors dominate possession and the home team frustrate and hit on the counter-attack.
Prediction
- It's a toss-up as to whether Shenhua will come out and blow the team away, but we expect them to come out on top in this cup tie and provide a good test for the hosts.
- Shenhua do concede too many goals though, which is why we're not expecting a comfortable margin of victory.
