Preview: Dalian Pro vs. Henan Songshan Longmen - prediction, team news, lineups

Having seen their winning run come to an end last time out, Henan Songshan Longmen visit the Dalian Sports Centre Stadium on Friday to face off against Dalian Pro.

On the other hand, the home side will also be looking to get back on track following a first defeat of the 2022 Chinese Super League season in their most recent involvement.

Match preview

Henan were held to a goalless stalemate against Changchun Yatai when the two sides went head-to-head at the Development Area Stadium on Monday.

Javier Pereira's men were left frustrated in front of goal despite recording more possession of the ball and creating more chances to score a winner.

The Red Devils have now dropped to fourth place in the league table but still remain only two points off the top of the pile after the first five rounds of matches.

Next up is the challenge of an opposing outfit with just one defeat in the 14 previous meetings between the teams all the way back to 2012.

However, Friday's visitors are the only side in the entire division yet to concede away from home, and they will be looking to maintain that defensive solidity on the road en route to another positive result.

Dalian Pro were sent crashing back down to earth courtesy of a humbling 3-0 loss against Shandong Taishan in Tuesday's encounter at the Wuyuan River Stadium.

Off the back of a largely uneventful opening 45 minutes, second-half goals from Marouane Fellaini, Moises and Qi Tianyu put Xie Hui's men to the sword.

Having picked up six of a possible 15 points so far, the Blue Hawks have slipped down to ninth place in the standings and only three points currently separate them from the drop zone.

Friday's hosts now seek to get their season back on the right path with a perfect response on home turf where they are yet to taste defeat this term.

Team News

Guowen Sun has scored in each of his last two home appearances for Dalian Pro, and the Chinese midfielder is certainly one to keep an eye on.

Lei Tong missed his side's last outing versus Shandong with an injury scare which could see him sit out Friday's game as well.

Ziyi Niu is a major doubt for Henan Songshan Longmen after coming off injured on the stroke of half time in the match against Changchun Yatai.

Twenty-one-year-old Jiahui Liu is expected to fill in for Niu at centre-back should the latter be deemed unfit to play any part for the visitors.

Dalian Pro possible starting lineup:

Zhang; Sun, Lin, Dong, Wang; Song, Lu, Fei; Lin, Yan, Shang

Henan Songshan Longmen possible starting lineup:

Shi; Jiahui, Yang, Sunjic; Zhong, Ma, Wang, Mawlanniyaz; Karanga, Huang, Henrique

We say: Dalian Pro 1-2 Henan Songshan Longmen

Henan come into the game on a better run of results and will fancy themselves to emerge triumphant come the end of the 90 minutes. We are tipping the visitors to get the job done, albeit by only a slender margin.

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