Preview
Mr SimpleDalian Zhixing are flying. Four wins and a draw in their last five, with a three-game winning run that has seen them score seven and concede just one. The 4–0 demolition of Qingdao Youth Island on 11 October was the latest proof, and before that they'd beaten Qingdao Jonoon 2–1 and Shanghai Shenhua 1–0 at home. This is a side that's found its rhythm and it's showing no signs of slowing down.
At home, Dalian Zhixing have won 12 of their last 20 home games, averaging 1.9 points per game and scoring 1.4 a match. They've kept eight clean sheets in those 20 home fixtures, which tells you they're comfortable in front of their own crowd. Their recent home results — 2–1 and 1–0 — show they're not just winning, they're winning with control.
Sichuan Jiuniu, on the other hand, are having a rough time on the road. Their away record over 20 games reads 4 wins, 3 draws and 13 losses, with just 0.75 points per game. They've failed to score in 9 of those 20 away trips and haven't kept a single clean sheet. Their last two games have been draws — 2–2 with Henan Jianye at home and 1–1 away at Shandong Luneng — and they've only won once in their last five.
The head-to-head is thin. The only meeting within the last 12 months was a 1–1 draw at Sichuan Jiuniu's ground back in May. Before that, Dalian Zhixing won 2–1 at their own ground in September 2025, and the two sides drew 1–1 in April 2025. So the history doesn't give us a huge edge, but what it does show is that Dalian Zhixing have beaten Sichuan Jiuniu at this venue before.
The counter-argument is that Sichuan Jiuniu have been competitive recently, picking up points in their last two games, and the head-to-head suggests these two can cancel each other out. But when you look at the numbers — Dalian scoring 1.8 a game in their last five and conceding 0.4, while Sichuan are averaging 0.9 scored and 1.8 conceded away — the numbers tell a clear story.
Key Points:
- Dalian Zhixing have won 4 of their last 5, with a 3-game winning run (7 scored, 1 conceded)
- Dalian's home record: 12W 2D 6L in 20 games, 8 clean sheets
- Sichuan Jiuniu's away record: 4W 3D 13L in 20 games, 0 clean sheets, 9 failed to score
- H2H is limited: 1 recent meeting (1–1 draw), 2 older meetings (1 Dalian win, 1 draw)
- Dalian's recent home games have been controlled, low-scoring wins (2–1, 1–0)
My pick: Dalian Zhixing home win at 1.75.