Mijatović's First Match as Shanghai Shenhua Coach: Avoiding a Repeat of the 9-1 Defeat
Shanghai Shenhua's new head coach Mijatović makes his debut against Beijing Guoan, avoiding a repeat of the 9-1 defeat from 29 years ago. Mijatović wants to win the first match and get a good start, but he must not be too aggressive and attack too much.
Shanghai Shenhua's Recent Form
Shanghai Shenhua has been doing well recently, with interim coach Mao Yijun leading the team to two consecutive wins and moving away from the relegation zone. Beijing Guoan has achieved 6 wins and 2 draws, and won 4-2 against Tianjin TEDA in their last match, scoring 4 goals in two consecutive matches.
Mijatović's Challenge
Mijatović advocates for an attacking style of football, while Beijing Guoan is good at defending and counter-attacking. If Shanghai Shenhua attacks fiercely, Beijing Guoan can counter-attack and use Zhang Yuning and Fabio's speed to attack Shanghai Shenhua's unstable defense. That would be a danger for Shanghai Shenhua.
Shanghai Shenhua's Countermeasures
Mijatović's first match as Shanghai Shenhua's coach should be stable and not make too many changes to the starting lineup. It's better to continue the main lineup and tactics from the two consecutive wins. At the same time, strengthen the high-pressure pressing on Beijing Guoan's midfield and limit the two wings' breakthroughs. Even if Shanghai Shenhua can't break through Beijing Guoan's defense, they can't let Beijing Guoan score easily, and a draw is also an acceptable result.
