Winning the title eight times, and three consecutive times in 2020, 2021 and 2022, Shandong Taishan is definitely the dominant player in the F.A.C. Cup. This season, Shandong Taishan is not without a chance to win the AFC Cup again, but it's definitely not easy. After all, Shanghai Port and Shanghai Shenhua are also the favorites to win the title.
The next AFC Elite League play-off game may be the last cover for Shandong Taishan this season.
Bangkok United Shandong Taishan vs.
Nature of Match: AFC Elite League Play-Offs
Competition time: August 13, 20:00
Shandong Taishan ended up finishing second in the Chinese Super League in the 2024 season, and as a result qualified for the AFC Elite League play-offs.
In the 2023-24 season, Bangkok United qualified for the AFC Elite League play-offs.
In the last three rounds of the Chinese Super League, 0:1 away to Henan and 0:0 at home: when I lost to Shanghai Harbor, some media people pointed to Cui Kangxi. In fact, the assistant coach did well in the lack of soldiers and the opponent is not weak. Cui Kangxi is back, away 1: three is lost to the relegation team Cangzhou Lions, what else is there to say?
The most serious problem facing Shandong Taishan at the moment is the incomplete lineup, especially the wave of injuries to foreigners, which is somewhat similar to last season's Manchester United.
Top scorer Cressan left the game with an injury in the final round of the league and is currently undergoing rehabilitation. It is doubtful that he will be ready in time for the AFC Elite League. Only Kazaishvili is a perfect foreign striker at the moment, and Zeca is on the AFC Champions League roster, but has not participated in the team's joint training yet, so it is highly unlikely that he will play. In the backline, Liu Yang could be injured, Gao Junyi is suspended and Wu Xinghan has been pulled from the list.
Meanwhile, Bangkok United is also a strong team in the Thai Premier League, with a total team value of 7.53 million euros, and has arrived in Jinan on the 10th, with all six foreign aiders.
If Tarzan wins, he'll go to the elite AFC Champions League. If he loses, he'll go to the AFC Champions League II, similar to Europe's inability to play the Champions League and the UEFA Europa League. Last season, Zhejiang, the third-place finisher in the Chinese Super League, played in the second tier of the AFC Champions League. UEFA also has a European Association League, AFC is also a three-tier league, and AFC has an AFC Challenge League below the AFC Champions League II.
At present, Taishan has no hope in the Chinese Super League, the road ahead of the AFC Cup is uncertain, and winning the AFC Championship is even more of a fool's errand, but you can't give up. If you lose to the Thai Super League team, Shandong Taishan itself is in an eventful time, may not be drowned by spit.
This game won't be easy for Shandong Taishan, but as long as you show the same fighting spirit and effort that you put into beating Bangkok United at home against Shanghai Seaport not too long ago, you'll be fine. After all, they are playing at home and are above their opponents. If you advance to the AFC Elite League, you can explain that to the fans, and it could also boost the team's morale, which has been low lately.
