Basement side Dalian Pro will be bidding to stretch their unbeaten run in all competitions to seven matches when they continue their Chinese Super League campaign at home to Changchun Yatai on Sunday.
The home side are currently bottom of the division on 11 points, one point behind 14th-placed Nantong Zhiyun, while Changchun occupy seventh position, boasting 24 points from their opening 16 matches.
Match preview
Dalian Pro have been present in China's top flight since earning promotion from the second tier in 2017, but they have found it difficult to make a serious impression in the Chinese Super League.
The Blue Hawks finished down in 11th position last term, and they would certainly take that position this season, as the strugglers are currently propping up the division.
Dalian Pro have only won one of their 16 league games this season, picking up 11 points in the process, which has left them in 16th spot, level on points with 15th-placed Shenzhen and one point behind Nantong in 14th.
Hui Xie's side are actually unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions, drawing each of their last five in the Chinese Super League, including a 1-1 with Nantong last time out.
Dalian Pro were last victorious in the league in the middle of April, which was their first game of the 2023 campaign, but they have shown positive signs during their recent run of draws.
Changchun, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 2-2 draw with Zhejiang Professional, which followed a 2-1 defeat to Wuhan Three Towns in their second game of the month.
Chen Yang's side have picked up 24 points from their 16 league matches this season, which has left them in seventh position in the table, 13 points clear of the relegation zone.
Changchun have won seven times in the league this term and have actually netted 30 goals, which makes them the leading goalscorers at this stage of the Chinese Super League campaign.
Yang's team, who finished 13th in the top flight last term, have picked up 10 points from their eight matches away from home this season, while Dalian Pro have the worst home record with eight points from eight games.
Changchun actually won the Chinese Super League in 2007, while they were runners-up in 2009, but they have spent two of their last five campaigns in the second tier.
Team News
Dalian Pro will be without the services of central defender Wang Xianjun, who was handed a straight red card in the team's 1-1 draw with Nantong on Wednesday.
As a result, there will have to be at least one change from the side that started the team's last match, with Lin Longchang potentially coming into the XI.
Xuangchuang Yan and Cesar Lobi Manzoki have netted four times each for the strugglers this season, and the pair should continue in attacking areas on Sunday.
Changchun, meanwhile, have not reported any injury concerns from their 2-2 draw with Zhejiang last time out, so it would not be a surprise to see the same XI take to the field.
Tan Long scored his seventh goal of the season in the team's last match, and the 35-year-old should continue in the final third of the field on Sunday.
Head coach Yang does have plenty of options for change, though, and Yan Zhiyu will have put himself in the thoughts of the manager with his goal off the bench against Zhejiang.
Dalian Pro possible starting lineup:
Yan; Yupeng, Yaopeng, Longchang, Zhen'ao; Bosancic, Wei; Mamba, Xiangchuang, Liangming; Manzoki
Changchun Yatai possible starting lineup:
Yake; Qi, Teng, Okore, Chengjian; Yongjing, Yufeng, Abdusalam, Zulj, Jinxian; Long
We say: Dalian Pro 1-1 Changchun Yatai
Dalian Pro have been the draw specialists in recent weeks, and we are predicting another stalemate for the team at the bottom of the division. Changchun will view this match as a good chance to put three points on the board, but we are expecting a low-scoring draw on Sunday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
