Shandong Taishan, the dominant player in the AFC Cup, has won the championship glory 8 times, and in 2020, 2021 and 2022, it was the third consecutive year to win the cup. However, this season, Shandong Taishan's road to winning the cup again is not a straight path, Shanghai Port and Shanghai Shenhua are also eyeing.
The upcoming AFC Elite League play-offs may be the final battle of the season for Shandong Taishan.
Upcoming matchup: Bangkok United Shandong Taishan
Nature of Match: AFC Elite League Play-Offs
Match Time: August 13th 20:00
In the 2024 season, Shandong Taishan ended up finishing second in the Chinese Super League, which in turn earned them a spot in the AFC Elite League playoffs. And in the 2023-24 season, Bangkok United also managed to make it to the play-offs.
With the recent Super League results, 0:1 away to Henan and 0:0 at home to Shanghai Harbor, the media has been pointing the finger at Cui Kangxi. However, in the absence of players and the strength of the opponent, Cui Kangxi's performance is outstanding. Away 1: 3 loss to the relegation team Cangzhou Lions, which seems to be a foregone conclusion.
At present, the biggest challenge facing Shandong Taishan is the incomplete lineup, especially the wave of injuries and illnesses of foreign aid, which is reminiscent of Manchester United in the previous season.
Top scorer Cressan left the field with an injury in the final game of the league and is currently undergoing rehabilitation, leaving doubt as to whether he will be able to make a comeback in the AFC Elite League. At present, Kazayishvili is the only foreign striker in the team, Zeca is on the list of AFC Champions League, but has not yet participated in the team's joint practice, the opportunity to play is slim. In the backline, Liu Yang may be injured, Gao Zhunyi is suspended, and Wu Xinghan is also ruled out.
Bangkok United, the Thai super team, the total value of the team up to 7.53 million euros, has arrived in Jinan on the 10th, all six foreign aid in place.
Shandong Taishan will advance to the elite AFC Champions League if they win. Instead, it will face the challenge of the second tier of the AFC Champions League, just as European teams cannot participate in the Champions League and UEFA Europa League. Zhejiang, the third-place team in the Chinese Super League last season, played in the second tier of the AFC Champions League. The AFC also has a European Association League, an AFC Tier 3 League, and an AFC Challenge League under the AFC Champions League Tier II.
Currently, Shandong Taishan is hopeless in the Chinese Super League, the future of the AFC Cup is uncertain, and winning the AFC Championship is even more out of reach, but giving up is not a wise move. If not defeated by the Thai Super League team, Shandong Taishan will be in an eventful fall, but may not be drowned out by public opinion.
This is a challenging match for Shandong Taishan, but it is not impossible to beat Bangkok United if they regain the fighting spirit and effort they put in against Shanghai Harbor at home not long ago. After all, playing at home gives them a slight advantage in terms of strength. If they can advance to the AFC Elite League, it will not only be an explanation to the fans, but also boost the team's low morale.
