The ambitious Shenhua faces the struggling manatee: the double drama of championship and relegation
In the context of the Chinese Super League, the 12th round of matches is particularly important, especially in the absence of direct competition between traditional strong teams, the teams still show undiminished competitive passion. The focus of this round is between Shanghai Shenhua and Qingdao Manatee, which is not only a simple football game, but also a battle of honor and survival.
Shanghai Shenhua, the team that has been in the league for the long run, has shown strong championship ambitions at the start of the season. However, the team's attacking firepower has waned noticeably in recent games, especially after the loss of key strikers Malele and Teixeira. The absence of this attacking line has made Shenhua's offense monotonous and predictable, reducing effective ways to counter dense defenses, and the team urgently needs to find a new solution. It is expected that Shenhua will stick to the classic 4312 formation in this round, and coach Slutsky will need to make tactical adjustments without a full lineup. Luckily, winger Mana's return from injury has provided a glimmer of life for the team, and although he will not be able to play the full game, his pace and ability to break through will play a key role in Shenhua's wide attack.
Suspense is repeated: Taishan strives for the top, and Xinpeng City is in trouble
In anticipation of the Chinese Super League, the duel between Shandong Taishan and Shenzhen Xinpeng City has undoubtedly added more dramatic colors. Taishan, the team who won 2-1 in the last round of matches against Wuhan Three Towns, is showing their indomitable spirit and desire for top positions. Taishan's Brazilian international Cressan was outstanding in the last game, scoring a good pass to not only help the team win valuable three points, but also lay a solid foundation for them to continue to chase the top of the league. At present, the difference between Taishan and the top three is only 3 points, and if they win again in this round, they will hope to match or even surpass their previous opponents, which is undoubtedly a huge incentive for Taishan.
The biggest problem facing the Tarzan team is the ongoing injury troubles. Since the start of the new season, the team has not been able to completely drain all the main players at one time, and injuries have loomed over the team like a shadow. Since Zeka's injury, except for Kazaishvili, who was lucky not to be seriously injured, the rest of the foreign aid has been affected to varying degrees.
Frequent defensive holes: Xinpeng City's road to relegation
For Shenzhen Xinpeng City, the journey of this season has been even more bumpy. Their recent form can be described as 'poor', with a 2-1 defeat at home to relegation rivals West Coast in their last game, leaving them winless in six games. In these six games, Xinpeng City has drawn 2 and lost 4, and has slipped to 13th place in the standings, only 1 point ahead of the relegation zone, and the situation is precarious. Statistically, Xinpeng City's offense is not inferior, scoring 11 goals in 11 rounds this season, averaging 11.3 shots per game and creating 1.8 scoring opportunities. However, their defensive problems have become a fatal wound, conceding 24 goals, the most of any team in the Super League.
The fierce battle is in full swing: the offensive dilemma of the Zhejiang team and the headwind of Nantong Zhiyun have turned around
In the Chinese Super League, every game is a comprehensive test of the team's tactical layout and mental outlook. Zhejiang, a team that has been at the top of the table in the previous two seasons, has seen its ups and downs this season. Their 3-2 record in the last five league games reflects the team's instability, with a win-one-loss pattern seemingly becoming the norm. This choppy performance has kept Zhejiang in the middle of the league, in stark contrast to the previous two seasons.
Zhejiang's problems are mainly focused on the offensive conversion rate. Although key players such as Frank and Lucas have recovered from injury, the team has not been able to improve their goalscoring efficiency. In the last game against Cangzhou, Zhejiang launched a whopping 32 shots on goal, but in the end only Leonardo contributed the only goal. Although this "wave shot" offensive shows the attacking power of the Zhejiang team, it also exposes its lack of shooting selection and finishing ability. Such stats are clearly not a strategy that can consistently lead to victory, especially when the opponent is more tightly guarded.
Battle in the headwind: the challenge of the Cangzhou Lions and the Tianjin Jinmen Tigers
In the fierce competition of the Chinese Super League, every game is a comprehensive test of the team's strategy and morale. This week's showdown will feature a thrilling clash between the Cangzhou Lions and Tianjin Jinmen Tigers, with both teams looking to revitalize their seasonal performances. Although the Cangzhou Lions showed a solid defensive counterattack strategy in the last game, they lost 0-1 to the Zhejiang team in the end.
Despite their excellent defence, they fell short in attack, particularly on the crucial final kicks and final passes. Cangzhou's trident Oscar, Ever and Solomon, despite their own skills, often fell into solitary play and failed to form effective teamwork, which directly affected the team's scoring efficiency.
The situation is similar for the Tianjin Jinmen Tigers, who drew 0-0 with Shanghai Shenhua in their most recent fixture. Although the team showed great hard work and indomitable spirit, the lack of energy in the attacking end was still an unavoidable problem. Although coach Yu Genwei has led the team to play 100 games, he is still lacking in attacking power. Vincent Kompagno's return from injury should have provided more options and tactical depth to the team, but his form needed to be adjusted, making it difficult for the coach to set up his line-up. Against a sturdy Cangzhou defence, the Tigers desperately need a striker like Vincent Kompagno to break through the opposition's defence, but whether to start him has become a tricky decision.
Rapids: The battle for survival between the Henan team and the three towns of Wuhan
In the Chinese Super League, every game is a contest of honor and survival. Henan have hit a low point again this season, with their recent three-game losing streak putting their place in the table in jeopardy. In the 2-4 defeat at Chengdu Rongcheng in the last round, Henan's defensive problems were once again exposed, and they have become the team that conceded the second most goals in the league.
The instability of the backline and frequent personnel changes made it difficult for the team to form an effective defensive system, and almost every two games were reversed after the lead, and this defensive fragility undoubtedly put a lot of pressure on the team. The situation is also worrying in attack, with the likes of Nasario and Achimpen lacking sufficient chemistry and the lack of centre-forward Kovic to deliver the desired results, leaving Henan's attack often strained.
Facing a similar challenge to the Henan team is Wuhan Three Towns. Although they have a slightly better points, the result of a 2-1 defeat to Tarzan in the last round also makes their situation equally grim. Enrique, the attacking core of Wuhan Three Towns, missed the last game due to family reasons, and his absence undoubtedly had a big impact on the team's offensive. In addition, although the main fullback Jiang Zhipeng returned from the ban to relieve the urgent need of the team's side attack, if Enrique continues to be absent, and the other attacker Eiffelding is also injured on the sidelines, how to adjust the tactics of Wuhan Three Towns and activate the attack has become a big problem in front of coach Ricardo.
Hard-fought expectations: Meizhou Hakka's offensive and defensive interpretation of Chengdu Rongcheng
Another key battle is the showdown between Meizhou Hakka and Chengdu Rongcheng. Although Meizhou Hakka were reversed by Guoan with a two-goal lead in the last round, this could not hide their bright spots in attack. The team's central defender, Pan Ximing, left the field in that game due to a deliberate red stain, which dealt a major blow to Meizhou Hakka's defensive stability. Despite this, Meizhou's offensive end, after Kosovic and Rodrigo returned from injury, both positional battles and counterattacks have improved significantly. Against Chengdu Rongcheng, Meizhou coach Pablo is likely to adopt a similar tactic to Guoan, trying to replicate the attacking strategy that showed a high conversion rate despite the defeat.
Bitter battle and hope: Changchun Yatai's persistence and Beijing Guoan's pursuit of victory
Changchun Yatai have faced a tough challenge in this season's China Super League, where they suffered a 5-2 defeat to Shanghai Port in the last round and are currently bottom of the league. In the face of such a predicament, Xie Hui, the coach of the Yatai team, showed an indomitable fighting spirit. Despite the poor record, the changes Xie Hui brought to the team were still recognized by the fans.
His tactical thinking reveals attacking courage and bold use of young players, which was rare during his predecessor Chen Yang's coaching years. Although this positive change has not yet fully translated into league points, it has injected new vitality into Yatai. However, the opponent they are about to face in this round is Beijing Guoan, who are on a five-game winning streak, which is undoubtedly a severe test for Yatai.
Beijing Guoan's recent form can be described as a phoenix's nirvana, and in their last game, they completed a stunning comeback from two goals down. This ability to fight against the wind demonstrates the team's depth of strength and team spirit that cannot be underestimated. Guoan's main striker Luis Suarez continued to lead the team forward, while the substitutes also found their groove to score, which provided manager Suarez with more tactical options. In addition, Guoan's defence is also firmly guarded by two foreign players, and a stable backline is an important guarantee for them to be able to pursue a sixth consecutive win on the road. If Guoan can win this game, they will not only continue to put pressure on the Shanghai giants, but also consolidate their position in third place in the standings.
Strategy and Survival: The showdown between the west coast of Qingdao and the port of Shanghai
Turning to the match between Qingdao West Coast and Shanghai Port, we see a different kind of battle of tactics and strategies. Shanghai Port's recent form has been impressive, as they have won three consecutive matches against relegation sides in their last three games, scoring 16 goals in the process, averaging more than five goals per game, showing their terrifying attacking prowess. In the face of such an offensive, how to plan the defense of Qingdao's west coast has become a key issue. Gustavo scored in five consecutive rounds, Wu Lei scored seven goals in three games, and with the assistance of Oscar and Vargas, Qingdao's defense on the west coast faced a great test.