Tianjin Jinmen Tiger vs Henan Songshan Longmen

Second-placed Henan Songshan Longmen head to the Olympic Sports Center Stadium to meet relegation-battling Tianjin Jinmen Tiger in a must-win Chinese Super League showdown.

Songyi Li’s last-gasp decider fired Tianjin to an all-important 1-0 triumph at Chongqing Liangjiang Athletic last time out, halting a run of six league matches without a win (D2, L4). Despite their underwhelming form, the hosts have at least managed to keep it competitive, with six of their last seven league fixtures featuring a full-time margin of under 1.5 goals. What’s more, the Olympic Sports Center Stadium has been a venue of entertainment lately, as six of Tianjin’s last seven Chinese Super League games here have seen over 2.5 goals and both teams on the scoresheet (W2, D1, L4). By contrast, each of their previous four top-flight home encounters against Henan has witnessed one or both sides fail to find the back of the net in matches garnering under 2.5 total goals.

Meanwhile, Henan have enjoyed a noticeable upturn in form ahead of this trip, going from four Chinese Super League games without winning (D2, L2) to back-to-back victories ‘to nil.’ Despite their paltry scoring return of 0.94 goals scored per match on average, the visitors are lagging six points behind pacesetters Shanghai Shenhua in second. But to whittle down that gap, the ‘Red Devils’ will have to defy their thoroughly disappointing away league record this season (W1, D4, L4). Much of Henan’s difficulties on the road have emanated from their uneventful attack that has mustered up an average of 0.55 goals per league travel. Indeed, Antonio Escalona’s men have drawn a blank in four of their last six top-flight road trips while scoring precisely once in the other two.