The awakening dragon. Structured, stubborn, and slowly sharpening its teeth.
Head Coach: Aleksandar Janković
Typical Formation: 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3
This is a new China — less chaotic, more cohesive. Gone are the frantic surges of past campaigns. Under Janković, the team has evolved into a patient, shape-conscious side that emphasizes discipline over drama. Possession now has purpose, and attacking moves are less about individual flair and more about angles, layers, and late surges.
Wu Lei remains the talisman — not as fast as he once was, but wiser. Around him, a younger core is being trusted with the keys to China’s ambitions. Their path is still bumpy, but they’ve stopped being predictable — and that in itself is progress.
Key Players:
Strengths: Compact mid-blocks, strong wing overloads, and effective set pieces. China press high in spells and drop deep when needed — flexible, reactive, and improving mentally.
Weaknesses: Lack of creativity against well-organized defenses. When chasing a game, they sometimes run out of ideas and urgency. If the crowd grows restless, so does the team.
The red fortress. Disciplined, fast-breaking, and proud of its scars.
Head Coach: Hélio Sousa
Typical Formation: 4-1-4-1 or 4-4-2
Bahrain are not here to entertain — they’re here to outlast, outthink, and outfight. Under Sousa’s steady hand, they’ve become masters of frustration. A low block, quick triggers for counters, and a midfield that doesn’t stop running — this is their blueprint, and it’s brought results. They’ve already rattled bigger names in this campaign and come into this match knowing how to play the spoiler role to perfection. Don’t expect elegance — expect efficiency and grit.
Key Players:
Strengths: Defensive organization, set-piece threat, and ruthless counter-attacks. Bahrain stay calm under pressure and wait for mistakes — and they don’t need many.
Weaknesses: Lack of possession control. If they go behind early, chasing the game becomes a struggle. Depth and stamina sometimes fade in the final 15 minutes. In case you’re planning to place a bet today, make sure you’ve activated the latest 1xbet promo code — it’s free and takes seconds.
This one won’t be a thriller — but it could be a tactical classic. China will look to squeeze and stretch, hoping to break Bahrain’s wall with width and repetition. Bahrain, in turn, will wait, pounce, and punish on the break. The first goal could shape the entire game’s rhythm. Expect a narrow margin, tense minutes, and one moment of quality making all the difference. Prediction: China 1–0 Bahrain. Edge: Home field, higher ball control, and set-piece strength tip the balance slightly in China’s favor. But make no mistake — they’ll have to earn every meter.
China are expected to control the tempo with their disciplined structure and home-field advantage, while Bahrain will rely on counter-attacks and defensive resilience. Goals may come at a premium as both sides are cautious in buildup and solid at the back.
Total score Under 2.5
Handicap 0 for China
Both teams to score - No offers the best value
For added safety, Asian Handicap 0 (Draw No Bet) on China
Place a bet on the line of 1xBet with odds of 2.43 for a China win
