Jiangsu Suning v Shanghai Shenhua betting preview & tip

Chinese Super League, 12.35pm Friday

Jiangsu Suning have collected 16 points from a possible 18 in Chinese Super League home matches this season and they should justify favouritism against struggling Shanghai Shenhua.

Fifth-placed Jiangsu are the highest scorers in the division with 28 goals in 13 games.

Brazilian attacker Alex Teixeira and Italy forward Eder lead their scoring charts, contributing 11 and seven goals respectively, and are the players most likely to make the difference against Shanghai Shenhua, who are in the thick of the relegation battle.

With the halfway point of the season approaching Shanghai Shenhua are second from bottom, two points adrift of safety.

Quique Sanchez Flores's side have gone nine matches without and win and must try to get out of their rut without their seven-goal top scorer Odion Ighalo, who has joined up with the Nigerian squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Flores must also make do with Paraguay winger Oscar Romero, who is at the Copa America, but they can call on Colombian midfielders Fredy Guarin and Giovanni Moreno.

However, Ighalo's pace and eye-for-goal will be sorely missed in a contest which is likely to be dominated by the home side.

Shanghai Shenhua can take some comfort from last Friday's 2-1 defeat at leaders Beijing Guoan, which was more closely fought than might have been expected.

However, they have a habit of losing tight games. Six of their eight defeats this season have been by a single goal and that trend may continue.

Recommendation
Jiangsu Suning & under 4.5 goals
1pt 10-11 Coral, Ladbrokes

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