TIPS - Chengdu Rongcheng VS Sanfrecce Hiroshima

[(Chengdu Rongcheng FC) Neutral]:
1. Both sides have never met before, so this game would be their first encounter.

[(Chengdu Rongcheng FC) Weakness]:
1. Chengdu Rongcheng FC foreign forward Felipe Silva scored an equalizer in the last league match, contributing 15 goals and 2 assists in the league, making him the absolute core of the team's offense. However, he has yet to score in the AFC Champions League Elite, and his performance in the tournament has been below expectations.
2. Chengdu Rongcheng FC drew 1-1 with Shenzhen Peng City in their final league match. They are on a 5-match winless streak across all competitions, with 3 draws and 2 losses, indicating persistently low form.
3. Chengdu Rongcheng FC's competitiveness in the AFC Champions League Elite is very limited. After 4 group matches, they have a record of 1 win, 1 draw, and 2 losses, placing them second to last in the table.
4. Chengdu Rongcheng FC's recent attacking power is insufficient, with the team scoring a total of 4 goals in their last 5 competitive matches, averaging less than 1 goal per game.
5. Chengdu Rongcheng FC's defense needs improvement, with the team conceding a total of 7 goals in their last 5 competitive matches, averaging 1.4 goals conceded per game.
6. Chengdu Rongcheng FC showed a clear decline in their recent home performances, as they are on a 2-game losing streak at home.

[(Sanfrecce Hiroshima) Strength]:
1. Sanfrecce Hiroshima forward Mutsuki Kato scored 2 goals in his last 3 competitive matches, showing very active performances on the attacking end.
2. Sanfrecce Hiroshima's performance in the current AFC Champions League Elite has been decent, and they currently rank 3rd in the table with a record of 2 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss.

[(Sanfrecce Hiroshima) Weakness]:
1. Sanfrecce Hiroshima's starting center-back Sho Sasaki was sent off with a red card in the last AFC Champions League Elite match and will be suspended for this game.
2. Sanfrecce Hiroshima suffered a 2-0 defeat to Vissel Kobe in the Emperor's Cup semi-finals in their last match. This not only ended their chances of reaching the final but also halted their 3-match winning streak, dealing a significant blow to their morale.
3. Sanfrecce Hiroshima's offensive stability needs improvement. The team scored a total of 7 goals in their last 5 competitive matches, but failed to score in 2 of those games.
4. Sanfrecce Hiroshima's ability to compete away from home is lacking, with the team recording 1 win and 3 losses in their last 4 non-home matches, resulting in a winning rate of only 25%.
5. Sanfrecce Hiroshima have shown significant defensive issues in their recent matches away from home, conceding a total of 7 goals in their last 4 non-home games, with goals conceded in every single match during that period.

[Tips]:
Chengdu Rongcheng FC's recent form remains persistently low, currently being winless in 5 consecutive competitive matches.

The team are fatigued both offensively and defensively, and their home performance has also declined, showing very limited competitiveness in the AFC Champions League Elite.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima won 3 of their last 4 matches, clearly making them the side in better recent form, and they have performed well in the AFC Champions League Elite.

However, their attacking firepower is inconsistent, and their recent ability to perform away from home is insufficient.

Given these factors, they are hard to overestimate in this away fixture.

Thus, Chengdu Rongcheng are expected to remain unbeaten at home!

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