Shanghai Derby: After a narrow escape in the high-altitude away game, Shenhua aims to continue dominating Haigang.

Special Contributor / Gan Hui After the thrilling 4-4 draw with Yukun, on August 9, Shenhua returns home to face Haigang in the fourth "derby battle" of the season. In the previous three matches, Shenhua has secured 2 wins and 1 draw, holding a clear advantage.

After 19 rounds of the Super League, Shenhua sits at the top with 45 points, while Haigang follows closely behind, 4 points adrift. Similar to last season's encounters between the two teams, this match is again a "championship derby," and the outcome will significantly impact the title race. If Shenhua can replicate last season's performance and secure a win, they can widen the gap from their rivals.

Haigang, built by Muscat, is a team known for its attacking prowess, while Shenhua's defense is relatively more stable.

However, in the last three matches, Shenhua's defensive performance has been somewhat lackluster. In the FA Cup match against Henan, they conceded 3 goals in 120 minutes; during the league rematch, Henan again breached Shenhua's defense twice; and in the recent away game against Yukun, they conceded 3 goals within the first 33 minutes, finishing the match with 4 goals against them.

Henan and Yukun are both teams ranked in the lower half of the league table, and neither has a strong attacking force. Given this context, conceding 9 goals in 3 matches raises concerns about Shenhua's defense. Facing a Haigang team with a stronger attack than Henan and Yukun, Shenhua must quickly learn from these recent experiences to enhance the stability of their defense and reduce goals conceded. Additionally, Haigang has won penalty kicks in their last two matches, so Shenhua's defenders must be cautious with their actions in the penalty area.

In the match against Yukun, Zhu Chenjie was absent from the squad due to injury, prompting Slutski to deploy Amadou as a center-back alongside Jiang Shenglong. Amadou is a highly capable player who has previously played in this position, but since joining Shenhua, he has not played there and is somewhat unfamiliar with it. Moreover, a defensive line relies on coordinated teamwork and mutual understanding, and Amadou's temporary role has shown limited synergy. More importantly, since returning from injury, Amadou has not regained his optimal physical condition and match fitness, leading to a decline in the intensity and strength of his defense compared to before his injury. The results indicate that Amadou's switch to center-back has not been ideal. Therefore, at this crucial stage of the title race, Slutski's unconventional defensive strategy seems somewhat risky.

Although bringing back 1 point from Yuxi is not an ideal outcome, it is still commendable that Shenhua managed to escape with a 4-4 draw after falling behind by 3 goals at one point. This experience can serve as a morale booster—reminding Shenhua's players that no matter how tough the situation, as long as everyone works together, they can overcome it.

After the match, Gao Tianyi said: "When we were behind, the coach kept encouraging us, hoping we could show the spirit we needed to turn the game around. Getting 1 point in the end is acceptable to us. Of course, it's not the most satisfying result, and we need to reflect on it, but this 1 point may be crucial in the end."

Of course, due to this draw, the points gap between Shenhua and Haigang has narrowed from 6 to 4. On August 9, the two teams will face each other directly. Looking at the recent two years' performance, Shenhua no longer fears their opponents and even holds a psychological advantage.

Last season, Shenhua faced Haigang four times in the league, FA Cup, and Super Cup, achieving 2 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss. In this season's three Shanghai derbies, Shenhua has remained unbeaten with 2 wins and 1 draw. The most recent encounter was in the FA Cup, where the away team Shenhua defeated their opponents 3-2. That victory held special significance for Shenhua, marking their first win at Pudong Football Stadium, which may lead to subtle shifts in the players' mindset. However, to secure a win, solid preparations and focus on every minute of the match are essential.

On the 3rd, after returning from Yuxi to Shanghai, Shenhua wasted no time in preparing for the match. Zhu Chenjie is actively undergoing rehabilitation treatment with the help of the medical team, aiming for a return to the field. Jiang Shenglong, who has scored in the last two matches, stated: "For a championship-contending team, reaching the top is not easy; we must take it step by step and look forward. We need to quickly learn from this match, as the upcoming game against Haigang is very important. We must perform well and strive to win the next match."