Newly-promoted Guizhou to make early splash

Chinese Super League
11.35am Friday

The new Chinese Super League season gets off to a low-key start with two potential strugglers meeting as Guizhou face Liaoning at the Guiyang Olympic Sports Centre and the home team get a tentative nod.

Guizhou's immediate aim will be to stay in the division after last season's promotion from League One and they were strong at home, conceding only nine goals.

They came up with the joint-best defensive record and Li Bing's boys should be competitive despite the lack of big-name arrivals.

Instead Guizhou have focused on clever signings with Australian defender Ryan McGowan a decent acquisition and Nikica Jelavic should still be able to do damage judging by his efforts last season.

Jelavic notched 15 times in 29 games in League One last season for Beijing Renhe, while fellow signing former QPR man Tjaronn Chery was a regular goalscorer in Holland before his switch to Loftus Road.

Only three foreign players are allowed to be selected in any game and that could be more of a problem for Liaoning, who had to release Australian duo Dario Vidosic and Michael Thwaite to fall into line.

Robbie Kruse is the biggest arrival from Bayer Leverkusen, although they were only four points off the relegation places and just two of their nine wins came on the road.

Recommendation
Guizhou draw no bet
1pt 8-11 Hills

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