Osar, Hulk and Graziano Pelle feature in Chinese Super League match on Friday
Wednesday 5 April 2017 17:07, UK
The Chinese Super League continues this Friday, live on Sky Sports, with a host of familiar faces on show.
With the new season just three games old, Chinese Super League clubs are still trying to work out their strongest XI, with many teams having invested heavily in some famous players and coaching staff in the last year.
Shanghai SIPG host Jinan-based side Shandong Luneng on Friday, live on Sky Sports, with both sides containing plenty of personnel who have graced the Premier League. Who are the standout names taking to the pitch on Friday lunchtime? We take a look...
Live Chinese Super League
Oscar
Struggling to command a regular starting berth under Antonio Conte, Oscar had very little impact in a Chelsea shirt in the first half of this season, but that didn't put Shanghai off, snapping up the Brazil international for a cool £52m - not bad for a player surplus to requirements.
Oscar made an immediate impact for his new club, as he scored the first goal in a 3-0 win over Thai club Sukhothai in the Asian Champions League. He has started all three Shanghai matches since the start of new the Chinese Super League season, making two assists. Such form hasn't been good enough for Oscar to win a spot in Brazil's most recent squads, however. Fellow Chinese Super League star Paulinho is very much in form for his country, showing Oscar the way.
Hulk
Hulk has an unconventional CV for a man with 47 Brazil caps. From Japan, Portugal, to Russia and now China, the 30-year-old has scored goals everywhere he has been, and is showing no sign of slowing down after his then-Asian transfer record switch to Shanghai, becoming one of the highest paid footballers in the process.
A bedding in period is not needed for Hulk. He is joint-top goalscorer with three goals in this season's Asian Champions League, and has two goals and three assists in the opening set of league fixtures, having netted four times in seven appearances in an injury-ravaged campaign last time out. Like Oscar, Hulk's form has still not been enough to win a spot in Brazil's latest squads.
Andre Villas-Boas
After promising so much in north London, Andre Villas-Boas was acrimoniously sacked by Tottenham, only to rebuild his reputation in Russia with Zenit Saint Petersburg, winning them only the fifth league title in the club's history.
Following a brief return to Portugal for family reasons, the Portuguese replaced Sven-Goran Eriksson in charge of Shanghai. It is believed that the influence of Hulk, who was coached by Villas-Boas at Porto and Zenit, was key in his appointment.
The new league season started well for the 39-year-old, with Shanghai thrashing Changchun Yatai, but defeat at the hands of Guangzhou Evergrande, who are managed by Luiz Felipe Scolari, last time out ended their winning run.
Felix Magath
The notorious hard taskmaster has overseen quite the turnaround in Jinan with Shandong. Having only just avoided relegation last season, Shandong now lead the way after three games, with a 100 per cent record.
Three goals in three games from former Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse has been keen to Magath turning around his club's fortunes.
Graziano Pelle
Eyebrows were certainly raised when Shandong made Graziano Pelle the fifth highest paid footballer in the world last year. Pelle scored five league goals in his debut season, but he is yet to find the net so far this campaign, despite his side's good form.
On the international stage, Pelle's move to China has not hampered his image in Italy, but his recent conduct hasn't helped his cause. Pelle was sent home from Italy's World Cup qualifying squad in October for refusing to shake coach Gian Piero Ventura's hand after being substituted.
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