Guangzhou Evergrande @1.36 ML vs. Shanghai Shenhua

[cryptocap]

restart of the CSL tonight where we have arguably the biggest club in Asia facing a club that a couple years ago looked like it with the signing of Drodgba...

Shenhua are just above the relegation zone due in part to their terrible away record, if they could replicate the strength they have at home they would surely be a talking point this season in the CSL...

2 or fewer goals in last 5 at home, Evergrande will have their work cut out as they will obviously dominate the encounter but may find it frustrating to open the scoring..home form is contagious and I think the break hurts their chances to maintain form

I have little information on the lineup Evergrande will put out but I believe 2 things: strength in attacking options and the recent friendly has shown these men are ready to go (6-2 vs Hamburg)

Full Stake on Evergrande to grind out a win and catch Shanghai unprepared @1.36

[Vaughany]

Here's a preview by an a guy who is a Shenhua fan...

NORTH TERRACE NEWS & PREVIEW: SHANGHAI SHENHUA V GUANGZHOU EVERGRANDE

Posted by Steve Crooks on Wednesday, July 9, 2014 · Leave a Comment


Tired of the high-drama, technical quality of the World Cup? Never fear, Shanghai Shenhua return to action in an unusually early end to the mid-season CSL break with league leaders Guangzhou Evergrande visiting Hongkou Stadium on Thursday evening.
Club News
It’s all change in the forward line, with tireless Syrian marksman Firas al-Khatib departing Shenhua alongside the more languid Colombian Luis Carlos Ruiz; Firas will be missed as something of a cult hero in Shanghai, with Ruiz (the club’s record signing) departing with his tail slung rather more between his legs.
Inbound are potentially promising Brazilian Paolo Henrique (via Trabzonspor in Turkey) and former hair salon hold-up artist Lucas Viatri, via a series of low-profile loans around Latin America.
With Ruis looking isolated and unable to link play, and Firas frustrated by a lack of gametime, it’s worth noting that the new boys can hardly do worse than their predecessors – both departing forwards leave having achieved the distinction of a half-Anelka, getting through to the mid-season break without scoring a single goal at Hongkou.
Last Time Out
In what feels like an awfully long time ago, Shenhua fell victim to a smash-and-grab comeback from Jiangsu Sainty; in a role reversal of the sides’ recent encounters at Hongkou, the home side looked much more comfortable and fluid than the visitors from Nanjing for much of the game, only to concede a sickening equalizer with one of their opponents’ few meaningful attacks. With the game finishing 1-1, Shenhua fans can only hope that the reverse-karma principle will continue for this year’s visit to Nanjing – as such Shenhua can look forward to being awarded not one but two ludicrously soft penalties in the game later on this year.
While visitors Guangzhou Evergrande wrapped up the first half of the season with a couple of 1-1 draws to remain on top of the CSL, they recently turned over Bundesliga’s great escape artists Hamburger SV 6-2 down in Guangzhou to tune up for a second half of the season in which retaining last season’s domestic & continental double must be the goal.
Causes for Optimism…
This is Evergrande, but not quite as we know them – with Conca replaced by Diamanti, Marcelo Lippi’s new policy of replacing South American stars with a retirement home for Serie A talent continued in the close-season break with Alberto Gilardino heading east; a man who seasoned European football followers may recall occasionally threatening being close to half-decent every now and then for Milan almost a decade ago.
While it’s unlikely to impact the result on Thursday – there is far, far too much of a gulf in squad class for that – it’s difficult for this sometime Evergrande observer (all fixtures against Shenhua and important CSL and ACL ties — there are undoubtedly those reading this article who know the side a lot better) to escape the feeling that a large part of what made this all-conquering side tick – the metronomic, maestro-like distribution of Conca and eternal wriggling and trickery of Muriqui prime among the South American flair on display – is being replaced by something more akin to football-by-the-numbers and the potential beginning of the CSL as a semi-serious retirement home in the vein of the early MLS or modern A-League.
… and for Concern
That gulf in quality. This is a one-paced, one-dimensional Shenhua squad shorn of width and creativity, and forced to rely on an increasingly-wayward dead-ball expertise and semi-regular flashes of brilliance from captain Gio Moreno – a man without whom the Hongkou side would be doomed this season. At least in past encounters with Evergrande – who really do have something of a hex on Shenhua, particularly at Hongkou – fans of the side in blue could console themselves with having the best goalkeeper on show and a promising winger or two. As things stand, Shenhua don’t have a single player (Moreno aside – who will be vying with Elkeson for the title of most talented player on the pitch) who would make the subs bench for Evergrande reserves, let along challenge the first-team.
Watch Out For
Which of the new forwards will get the nod? Presumably a 4-4-2 is unlikely, with Moreno and the two center-backs locked-down as regular picks, leaving only one foreign player slot open. As much as NTPwould argue – along with many other Shenhua fans – to see Gao Di given a start in his natural position of center-forward alongside either Viatri or Henrique, a match against the best side in the land may not be the time – whoever starts up top will need to run plenty of lone furrows on Thursday.
The Verdict
Not a hope in hell – far better Shenhua sides than this have struggled awfully against Hengda. Difficult to avoid the customary 3-0 to Evergrande prediction here.

[addictedto]

Here we go, I prefer to see such games discussed rather than the stupid World Cup. Really hope to see some goals here especially after the goalfests against Hamburger.

[cryptocap]

i like that the colombian has left i believe he was his main scorer (1.5 units on guangzhou -1) for teaseeeeeee!

[Vaughany]

i like that the colombian has left i believe he was his main scorer (1.5 units on guangzhou -1) for teaseeeeeee!

Moreno hasnt left

[cryptocap]

"with tireless Syrian marksman Firas al-Khatib departing Shenhua alongside the more languid Colombian Luis Carlos Ruiz"

must be a terribly constructed sentence...


^implying they left together lol

[cryptocap]

-1 is still push so im hoping for a hattie by some of lippi's new signings

[addictedto]

Heavy line movement against you, my firend. You better get out of this bet if you have gone big.

[Vaughany]

Elkeson and Diamanti are starting.

Shenhua only playing Paulo Henrique up front with Gio Moreno behind - typical Sergio Batista tactics - just playing for the 0-0, 1-0 1-1, no Viatri in squad. Brazilian centre back Paulo Andre only on bench as well

[vasilli07]

Shanghai playing pretty well. Not much possession but have a couple of chances.

[Vaughany]

Ahh classic fail, was waiting until 10 min mark to play over 1 1st half at about +130, and of course i click confirm just as evergrande win freekick and diamanti scored from so be got rejected! Played over 1.75 1st half at 15 min mark but only 1 more goal so only half profit

[Vaughany]

played under 3 live. Think it stays like this now or Evergrande scrape a 2-1 at worse Elkeson and Diamanti will probably go and score a couple now in final 15!

[irlandais_noir]

Guangzhou ML keeps getting bet down in-play. Tempted to take it....

[irlandais_noir]

penetrate it - 0.5 unit on Shanghai at +1400

Let's get it

[Vaughany]

ahh of course Evergrande score in injury time.

[cryptocap]

it was a grind thats what I thought lol