For the first time in the history of the two nations, the People’s Republic of China welcome home the Indian national team for an international friendly to be played at the Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium in Suzhou City. Ranked 76th in the FIFA rankings, the quality and dominance of Chinese football have seen a steady growth in the last few years.

Already an Asian powerhouse in the football circuit, China are slowly gaining ground in the international scene with their national league - Chinese Super League, pulling in global football stars. On Saturday, they enter the encounter as the favourites against India, having stayed unbeaten in all the 17 matches both the nations have played over the years. Here we take a look at India’s opponents and what one can expect from them.

MAN-IN-CHARGE

After Italy’s FIFA World Cup 2006 winning coach Marcello Lippi took over the reigns of the Dragons in October 2016, there has been a significant improvement in the national setup, with China coming very close to qualifying for the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018. However, China’s recent run of form has been poor, with scoring goals a primary concern, something the Italian would want to leave behind when taking on the Blue Tigers.

PAST RESULTS

2018 has not proved to be a good year for Chinese football, as until now. In the six matches they have played this year, they have managed to win just two while losing thrice. Their victories have come against lowly opponents, Myanmar and Thailand, whereas they have been thrashed by Wales and the Czech Republic in the China Cup 2018. They enter the fixture against India on the back of a 1-0 defeat in the hands of Qatar in another friendly.

KEY PLAYERS

Wu Lei

Lei can be considered as China's most lethal player, whose left-wing exploits are known to all. An ideal goal-scoring winger, India can expect a lot of attacks being shaped through the wings. The 26-year-old represents Shanghai SIPG in the Chinese Super League, where he already has scored 21 goals from just 23 appearances. Along with this, his nine assists lay bare the kind of havoc he can create for India in the middle of the park, as well, as upfront.

Gao Lin

Gao Lin is expected to be given the responsibility of leading the Chinese attack in the upcoming friendly. With more than 100 caps to his name, the 32-year-old is one of the most experienced players in the squad, the experience which he is sure to display against India. The Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao FC striker has also had a good Chinese Super League season, having already scored nine times and assisting four in the 22 matches he has featured in.

SQUAD LIST

Goalkeepers: Zeng Cheng, Yan Junling, Zhang Lu

Defenders: Yu Hai, Feng Xiaoting, Li Xuepeng, Yu Yang, Deng Hanwen, Liu Yiming, Wang Tong

Midfielders: Zheng Zhi, Zhao Xuri, Yu Hanchao, Wu Xi, Fan Xiaodong, He Chao, Chi Zhongguo, Mirahmetjan, Jin Jingdao, Zhang Xiuwei

Forwards: Gao Lin, Wu Lei, Xiao Zhi, Yu Dabao

Watch the match live on the Star Sports Network, Hotstar and Jio TV from 5pm onwards.

Read the match preview here.