Nantong Zhiyun suffered a heavy blow in the relegation battle, defeating the powerful Beijing Guoan 1:3 in this round of matches, and although the points stayed at 22, there is still a 4-point gap with Qingdao Hainiu, who is in the bottom three, and it seems that they have already put an end to the relegation quota in advance. Nantong Zhiyun's relegation is not a coincidence, compared to last season, their performance this season is like a double, long time at the bottom of the Chinese Super League, the final relegation seems to be expected.
The last relegation ticket in the Chinese Super League is still up in the air. Currently, Meizhou Hakka, Qingdao Hainiu and Shenzhen Xinpengcheng are tied at 27, 26 and 26 points, respectively, with a negligible difference. Because of this, the outcome of the final round of matches will be pivotal, with one loss being enough to upend the fate of the entire season. Any one of these three teams could be a lock for relegation if they falter in the final round.
The relegation situation in the final round is complicated. Qingdao Hainiu will welcome Cangzhou Lions, who have been successfully relegated, at home, while Shenzhen will face Nantong Zhiyun, who have been relegated. Although Meizhou Hakka is one step ahead in terms of points, their schedule is not so optimistic, as they will challenge Shandong Taishan on the road. Although Meizhou Hakka is ahead in terms of points, their road to relegation will be even tougher when they face Shandong Taishan on the road. In contrast, Qingdao Hainiu and Shenzhen Xinpengcheng's opponents have no intention to fight in the last round, and with the advantage of home field, the chances of winning seem to be more considerable. Now, the key lies in whether Meizhou Hakka can pull themselves together in this battle for survival.
