Preview: Cangzhou Mighty Lions vs. Zhejiang Professional

Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Chinese Super League clash between Cangzhou Mighty Lions and Zhejiang Professional, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Zhejiang Professional will attempt to extend their unbeaten run to eight games in all competitions when they face Cangzhou Mighty Lions on Sunday.

The hosts, who sit in seventh place, are looking to return to winning ways after losing their last two competitive fixtures.

Match preview

Cangzhou are currently sitting in 11th position in the Chinese Super League table with 13 points to their name from as many matches.

Sunday’s hosts will be in a downbeat mood after being knocked out in the third round of the Chinese FA Cup with a 2-1 defeat to second-tier Qingdao West Coast before losing 1-0 to Henan in the league.

Having won just two of their last eight competitive games, Cangzhou will be looking to embark on a positive run of results in the next few weeks.

If they are to move up the standings then Cangzhou will have to improve on home turf after winning just one of their seven home league games this term.

They are also one of four teams in the top flight who are yet to keep a home clean sheet in the 2023 Chinese Super League season.

Zhejiang are currently enjoying a fine run of form, having recorded five wins and two draws in their last seven competitive matches.

Since playing out a 2-2 draw with Henan on June 9, Zhejiang have gone on to claim comfortable victories in both the Chinese FA Cup and the league.

They cruised to a 4-1 win over Sichuan Jiuniu to progress to the fourth round of the FA Cup, before they put three goals past Meizhou Hakka in Wednesday’s league meeting.

A Nyasha Mushekwi brace and a Jean Evrard Kouassi strike guided Zhejiang to a third consecutive home win, and their second straight home win by a 3-0 scoreline.

They will now head on their travels for Sunday’s contest, and they will certainly be confident of troubling the scorers after registering at least two goals in each of their last four away games across all competitions.

Cangzhou Mighty Lions Chinese Super League form:

Cangzhou Mighty Lions form:

Zhejiang Professional Chinese Super League form:

Zhejiang Professional form:

Team News

After dropping down to the bench in midweek, Mile Skoric is set to return to the Cangzhou starting lineup on Sunday.

Deabeas Owusu-Sekyere is expected to retain his place in the side after starting the last two games for the hosts.

Since joining the club in April, Jurgen Locadia has netted four times in 13 appearances, and he will be looking to add to his tally when he leads the line against Zheijang.

As for the visitors, defender Yu Dong is expected to slot in at right-back after missing the midweek win through suspension.

Kouassi will look to provide a goal threat from the left flank after scoring in each of Zhejiang’s previous three matches.

Having scored seven goals in his last seven matches, Mushekwi will be hoping to continue his fine run of form on Sunday.

Cangzhou Mighty Lions possible starting lineup:
Shao; Sun, Zheng, Skoric, Wang, Zhao; Maritu, Zhukov, Lin, Owusu-Sekyere; Locadia

Zhejiang Professional possible starting lineup:
Zhao; Dong, Sun, Leung, Yue; Li, Zhang; Gao, Cheng, Kouassi; Mushekwi

We say: Cangzhou Mighty Lions 1-2 Zhejiang Professional

Zhejiang have won five of their last six matches in all competitions, and we think they will claim another victory against a Cangzhou side who have lost three of their previous four home games.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data

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