Contending squads Shanghai SIPG FC (6-3-5, 23 points) and Tianjin Teda FC (5-4-5, 20 points) are scheduled to meet at the Shanghai Stadium this Saturday, June 25, as the 2016 Chinese Super League season reaches its halfway mark.

Shanghai has been reeling as of late, being winless in their last four matches in the China top flight, after winning six of the previous seven. As a result, the team dropped to the fourth spot of the league table from as high as second place, as of round 14.

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Head coach Sven-Göran Eriksson's boys are coming off a 0-0 stalemate with another struggling perennial powerhouse, Shandong Luneng FC, which is now coached by former Bundesliga champion manager Felix Magath, at the Jinan Olympic Sports Center Stadium last Sunday. It was their third drawn match in their last four assignments.

The draw made the two clubs share a point each in the overall standings, which is something both needed.

Meanwhile, Tianjin Teda was nipped 0-1 by streaking newly-promoted side Hebei China Fortune FC at the Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium last Saturday.

French midfielder Gael Kakuta provided the lone goal of the contest for the home team in first minute of the match off an assist from forward Dong Xuesheng, before the two squads went scoreless the rest of the way.

The loss was the Tianjin Tigers' second straight, following a six-game unbeaten streak. Currently, manager Dragan Okuka's side is in the seventh spot of the China first division table, two points behind fifth and sixth-placed teams Shanghai Greenland Shenhua and Henan Jianye.

The Red Eagles are the favorites to win over the Tigers in this match, as Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan is back in action for Eriksson's men after a long injury layoff.

The predicted result is a close 2-1 decision for Shanghai SIPG.

Shanghai SIPG starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Yan; Fu, Kim, Shi, Wang; Cai, Yu; Wu, Conca, Elkeson; Gyan

Tianjin Teda starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Yang; Bai, Cao, Junior, Nie; Guo, Fan; Hu, Montero, Hui; Diagne 

TagsChina Football, Chinese Super League, Chinese Super League 2016, Shanghai SIPG FC, Tianjin Teda FC