AFC Champions League Elite Gameweek 7, East
Shanghai Shenhua 0 - 2 FT Machida Zelvia
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Futmetrix Verdict
100
FT
Sun, Oct 25
Barcelona
1-2
Real Madrid
โก Intensity
68
โ๏ธ Balance
42
๐ Stakes
100
๐ฒ Upset
60
Mbappรฉ breaks El Clรกsico late
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
2' Jin Shunkai
Y. Soma 3'
34' Makhtar Gueye
HT
66' โ L. Ke โGao Tianyi
โ S. Fujio โT. Yengi 73'
77' โ M. Gueye โYang Haoyu
โ N. Lavi โR. Shirasaki 80'
โ Na Sang-Ho โK. Kuwayama 80'
Y. Soma (Y. Nakayama) 88'
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Shanghai Shenhua
Goalkeepers
Xue Qinghao 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Wilson Manafรก 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
54%
Pass Acc
Jin Shunkai 
FRIENDLY FIRE
Pen Given
Mistake
Pen Given
Mistake
1
Fouls
6.5
Rating
Zhu Chenjie
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shinichi Chan 
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Midfielders
L. Ke
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Wu Xi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Joรฃo Teixeira 
MAGNET
85
Activity
85
Activity
71
Passes
14
Duels
Forwards
Saulo
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
14%
Pass Acc
Makhtar Gueye
LATE SHIFT
13
Late Mins
13
Late Mins
77
Total Mins
77
Entry
Rafael Silva
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
21%
Pass Acc
BENCH
Ma Zhen 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Wang Shilong
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yang Zexiang
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Huang Ming
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Wu Qipeng
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Xu Haoyang
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Xie Pengfei
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gao Tianyi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Wang Haijian
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yang Haoyu
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Liu Chengyu
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Han Jiawen
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Machida Zelvia
Goalkeepers
Kosei Tani
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Henry Heroki Mochizuki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Daihachi Okamura
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Gen Shoji 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
4
Tackles
75%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
Hotaka Nakamura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yuta Nakayama
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
64%
Pass Acc
Neta Lavi
LATE SHIFT
10
Late Mins
10
Late Mins
80
Total Mins
80
Entry
Kotaro Hayashi 
SWEEPER
5
Cleanups
5
Cleanups
5
Interceptions
0
Blocks
Forwards
Na Sang-ho
LATE SHIFT
10
Late Mins
10
Late Mins
80
Total Mins
80
Entry
Yuki Soma 
CLUTCH HERO
88
Goal Time
88
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
8.9
Rating
Shota Fujio
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
73
Total Mins
73
Entry
BENCH
Tatsuya Morita
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Yoshiaki Arai
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Ibrahim Dreลกeviฤ
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Cha Je-hoon
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Keiya Sento
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Asahi Masuyama
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ryohei Shirasaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
C. Mayaka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Takaya Numata
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Futa Tokumura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kanji Kuwayama 
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
10
Minutes
6.5
Rating
Tete Yengi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
17
Total Mins
Started
Entry
League Standings
P: 7 GD: +8
P: 7 GD: +7
P: 7 GD: +4
P: 7 GD: +2
P: 7 GD: 0
P: 7 GD: +1
P: 7 GD: 0
P: 7 GD: -2
P: 7 GD: -2
P: 7 GD: -3
P: 7 GD: -6
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Shanghai Shenhua
Machida Zelvia
Shanghai Shenhua
Machida Zelvia
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Clinical Machida Zelvia Silence Shanghai Stadium
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 18/100. A clinical display from the Japanese visitors saw them exploit set-piece opportunities to dismantle a possession-heavy but toothless Shanghai side.
Tactical Gridlock in Shanghai
The first half at Shanghai Stadium was defined by a tactical struggle where Shanghai Shenhua attempted to defy their poor recent form. Despite sitting 11th in the table, the hosts edged possession with 51% of the ball and tried to build rhythm through 465 total passes. However, a Balance score of 0.9 reflected a side that could keep the ball but struggled to penetrate a disciplined Japanese block. The home side managed 13 shots, but with an xG of just 0.76, these were largely low-quality attempts from distance. The Stakes were high for a Shenhua side desperate to climb out of the bottom half, but they found themselves frustrated by a visitor that was happy to sit deep and wait for the right moment to strike.
The Corner Barrage and Breaking the Deadlock
The game swung in favor of the visitors through a relentless display of set-piece efficiency. An Intensity rating of 3.3 was underpinned by the "corner pressure" narrative, as Machida Zelvia earned a staggering 11 corners throughout the match. Each delivery into the box caused chaos, with the visitors winning 17 aerial duels compared to just 11 for the hosts. This physical dominance allowed Machida to generate a high xG of 1.92 despite having fewer total shots than their opponents. The turning point arrived when this sustained pressure finally told, with two clinical finishes punishing a Shanghai defence that eventually buckled under the weight of 26 crosses and constant aerial bombardment.
Resolution and Continental Implications
The final score of 0-2 was a fair reflection of Machida's superior game management and clinical edge. With an Upset Factor of 0.0, the result aligned with the pre-match expectations, cementing Machida Zelvia in second place with 14 points from seven matches. For Shanghai Shenhua, the defeat marks their fifth loss in the campaign, leaving them languishing with just four points. While they showed glimpses of quality in their passing game, their inability to defend set-pieces or convert big chances remains a fatal flaw. As the Japanese side continues their title charge, the hosts must find a way to turn possession into points before their continental ambitions evaporate entirely.
Key Questions
What was the main factor in Machida Zelvia's victory?
Their set-piece dominance was key, earning 11 corners and generating a high xG of 1.92 to punish the hosts.
How did Shanghai Shenhua perform at home?
Despite controlling 51% possession and 465 passes, they lacked a clinical edge, managing just four shots on target from 13 attempts.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Archive note: this preview was written after the match was played.
Survival and Advancement: The East Asian Crossroads
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 66/100. This match serves as a final stand for Shanghai Shenhua to salvage their continental campaign against a Machida side eyeing direct qualification.
The Setup
As the AFC Champions League league phase reaches its crescendo on February 10, 2026, the contrast at Shanghai Stadium could not be sharper. Machida Zelvia arrives as the competition's away specialists, boasting a 75% win rate on their travels. Their Balance rating of 9.8 reflects a side that has mastered the art of the road trip, sitting comfortably in 2nd place. Conversely, Shanghai Shenhua is reeling from a dismal run. A Form score of 5.0 highlights the weight of four consecutive losses before a recent narrow reprieve. For the hosts, currently 11th, the Stakes are binary: find a result or risk falling below the top-24 playoff line.
Key Battle
The tactical friction will occur in the transition phases. Shanghai must find a way to break Machidaโs disciplined structure without overextending themselves. The visitors thrive on drawing opponents out and exploiting the space behind the full-backs. It is a battle of Japanese clinical efficiency against Chinese desperation. If the home sideโs back line cannot maintain concentration for ninety minutes, Machidaโs high-pressing attackers will punish them, as they have done to nearly every opponent this season.
Our Prediction
Machida Zelviaโs structural superiority should dictate the flow. While Shanghai will likely find the net through sheer urgencyโwith attackers like Rafael Ratรฃo and M. Gueye providing some threatโtheir defensive vulnerabilities remain a glaring issue. Expect Machida to absorb the early pressure and strike twice on the counter-attack. A 1-2 victory for the visitors looks the most probable outcome, securing their place in the top-8 direct qualification bracket while leaving Shanghai to sweat over the playoff line.