Chinese Super League Preview

League leaders Guangzhou Evergrande will look to continue their winning run at home to Changchun Yatai on Friday, as they kick off this weekend's action in the Super League.

Players of Guangzhou Evergrande prepare for their match against Changchun Yatai in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, September 7, 2017. [Photo: IC]

Evergrande have been in a rich vein of form of late, winning four games consecutively. Brazilian playmaker Ricardo Goulart has been a crucial element to the team in this run, scoring in each of the wins.

Guangzhou's opponents, Changchung Yatai also find themselves unbeaten in four, but with only one win to show for it.

Manager Chen Jingang will be looking to top scorer and former Watford forward, Odion Ighalo to inspire his team against the league leaders.

The chasing pack for the league leaders is looking increasingly slim, with Andre Villas-Boas' Shanghai SIPG taking on relegation battlers Tianjin Teda on Saturday.

SIPG currently face an eight points deficit to the table summit, with Luiz Felipe Scolari's Guangzhou outfit looking increasingly more likely to retain their title.

Tianjin face a slightly smaller deficit of just one point to escape the relegation spots, with Nigerian national team captain John Obi Mikel hoping to inspire his side to overcome their relegation fears.

The battle for the third AFC Champions league spot continues this weekend, with just six points separating 3rd and 7th place.

The current holders of the coveted continental position, Shandong Luneng face Jiangsu Suning at home on Saturday, a team looking to ease fears of relegation, being just four points clear of the relegation zone.

A potentially feisty fixture will be on show on Sunday, with Hebei CFFC facing fellow AFC Champions League qualification contenders Guangzhou R & F.

The divisions reported 5th highest paid player, Ezequiel Lavezzi has shown his worth for the latter, scoring in his sides previous four matches, notching up three wins in the process.

Guangzhou R & F have stumbled upon more inconsistent form, losing 7-2 against rivals Guangzhou Evergrande, before scoring four goals in consecutive matches, winning both in the process, all in the opening weeks of August.

Guangzhou find themselves without a win in two games despite this, and will be looking to Israeli midfielder Eran Zahavi to continue his imperious goalscoring form, with 24 goals in just 23 appearances for the Blue Lions.

These significant fixtures will go a way to signalling how the Super League will pan out this season, and whilst the title is beginning to look like a foregone conclusion, the hotly contested relegation and continental spots will provide an exciting conclusion to the season.