TIPS - Qingdao West Coast VS Shanghai Shenhua

[(Qingdao West Coast) Strength]:
1. Qingdao West Coast have performed excellently recently, winning their last 3 away matches against Meizhou Hakka, Dalian Yingbo F.C., and Shenzhen FC, achieving a 3-game winning streak.
2. Qingdao West Coast have shown a good offensive rhythm recently, scoring 9 goals in their last 6 matches, averaging over 1 goal per game.
3. Qingdao West Coast have performed well recently, winning 7 of their last 10 matches in AH, and beating the odds in all of their last 3 matches.

[(Qingdao West Coast) Weakness]:
1. Qingdao West Coast rank 8th in the Chinese Super League and have already completed their relegation avoidance task ahead of schedule. The team are in excellent form recently, achieving three consecutive away wins. The remaining matches are for smooth transition, with no strong competitive motivation.
2. At home, Qingdao West Coast's recent performance has been inconsistent, losing their last 2 home matches to Zhejiang Professional F.C. and Beijing Guoan, clearly struggling against stronger teams.
3. Qingdao West Coast's defense has been unstable, conceding 10 goals in their last 6 matches, with 17 goals conceded in 12 home matches so far this season.
4. In the first leg of the season, Qingdao West Coast lost 0-4 away to Shanghai Shenhua, and in the last 3 historical encounters, they lost all matches without scoring.

[(Shanghai Shenhua) Strength]:
1. Shanghai Shenhua currently rank 3rd in the Chinese Super League, only 3 points behind the top team Shanghai Port F.C., and still hold hope for the championship. With only 4 rounds left in the league, Shanghai Shenhua must strive for victory in every match.
2. Shanghai Shenhua have performed steadily in away league matches this season, achieving 7 wins, 3 draws, and 3 losses, with a win rate of over 50%.
3. Shanghai Shenhua's offense has been stable recently, scoring 12 goals in their last 6 league matches, averaging 2 goals per game.
4. Shanghai Shenhua have maintained a perfect record against Qingdao West Coast in their last 3 historical encounters, with the most recent match resulting in a 4-0 victory.

[(Shanghai Shenhua) Weakness]:
1. Shanghai Shenhua are affected by both the international break and injuries. Luis Asue represents Guinea in the World Cup qualifiers, and his physical condition is questionable after long-distance travel. Players like Chan Shinichi, Liu Chengyu, and Yang Haoyu have also been called up by their respective national teams. In the forward line, Saulo Mineiro and Luis Asue are out with long-term injuries, significantly impacting the team's attacking power.
2. Shanghai Shenhua's recent form has been very poor, winning only 1 of their last 6 official matches, with a win rate of less than 20%.
3. Shanghai Shenhua's defense has been inconsistent recently, conceding 6 goals in their last 6 matches, averaging 1 goal conceded per game.
4. Shanghai Shenhua have won only 2 of their last 10 matches in AH with poor performances, and lost 4 of their last 5 away matches in AH.

[Tips]:
Qingdao West Coast have recently achieved a 3-game winning streak in the league, and the team have already announced their successful relegation avoidance ahead of schedule.

With a relaxed schedule ahead and no significant pressure, they may perform better at home.

Compared with Shanghai Shenhua, Qingdao West Coast do not have many players called up for international duties, so their physical conditioning and overall preparation are superior to their opponents.

The 0-4 loss in the first leg has further fueled Qingdao West Coast's desire for revenge.

In contrast, Shanghai Shenhua have been continuously competing in the AFC Champions League Elite and the league, with some players also called up to various national teams, which may affect the lineup for this match.

Shanghai Shenhua's schedule is more busy, and the players are highly fatigued.

Additionally, their recent away performances have been poor, showing signs of running out of steam.

Therefore, we expect Qingdao West Coast to at least beat the odds at home this time.

[Recommended]:
Qingdao West Coast (+1/1.5)