The night of April 16th kicked off the first round of the Chinese Super League 2023 season's marquee matches. Shanghai Shenhua got the season off to a good start with a 1-0 win over Shandong Taishan at home. Shandong Taishan had previously suffered losses in the first round of the Cup, the Super Cup and the league. It was an exciting matchup, with Shanghai Shenhua's reinforcement strategy playing a key role, while Shandong Taishan showed their own unique style. The cheers at the Shanghai Stadium seemed to announce that the long-awaited Chinese Super League is really back!
The pace of the game was tight and the moments were endless.
Both teams are senior powerhouses in domestic soccer. The only goal in the match came in the 40th minute of the first half. Wu Xi sent a precise pass from the left side of the field, and although the player in the penalty area did not touch the ball, the ball magically fell into the empty goal after bouncing on the ground, and Shandong Taishan's goalkeeper Han Rongze was caught off-guard, and the score was changed as a result. Although it was an accidental goal, it reflected Shanghai Shenhua's relentless attacking spirit. Prior to that, they had already threatened on several occasions, with Wu Xi's pass showcasing the veteran's excellent footwork.
Compared to the passivity of the previous Super Cup, Shandong Taishan's spirit has improved this campaign, but the efficiency of the offense still needs to be improved. In the eighth minute of the game, Taishan team right pass, Liu Yang in the penalty area header attack fierce, but met the Shenhua goalkeeper Ma Zhen's heroic save, Ma Zhen's appearance is unexpected, because Shenhua has introduced the performance of Bao Yaxiong.
However, Ma Zhen was undoubtedly the hero of Shenhua's win. Towards the end of the match, Shandong Taishan's naturalized player Fernando threatened Shenhua's goal with a free kick and a long-range shot, but Ma Zhen reacted quickly to clear the danger. For Shenhua, the second half was extremely efficient despite being dominated by counter-attacks. Substitute Cao Jie and Malelai up front both posed a huge threat to Taishan with their speed. The fast pace of the game was also a highlight of its spectacle.
Shenhua's new recruits shine, Moto becomes Tarzan's change of pace.
During the break, both teams made massive reinforcements. Shenhua's new recruit Joao Teixeira has a comprehensive skill set and is trusted to make two successful breakthroughs and four fouls on Taishan in the game, finishing off the team's attack. Midfield outside back Amadou also showed excellent tackling ability, contributing two interceptions and four clearances, becoming a solid barrier in the team's midfield. The former French Ligue 1 player has shown his strength in this season's Super League.
Shandong Taishan made adjustments mainly in terms of local players. Sun Guowen made his debut with three interceptions in defense and a high pass success rate in offense. Newcomer Tong Lei failed to get much of a chance to perform as a substitute, but the absence of Li Yuanyi and Hu Jinghang has him looking forward to his debut.
Naturalized player Fernando has been in the spotlight. After two years of hibernation, his speed has dropped significantly, and the media jokingly referred to him as "a small motorcycle turned into a battery car". However, the addition of Fernando brought some changes to Taishan's offense, especially in the second half, when he was almost the only point of attack for the team. With Wu Xinghan and Jin Jingdao likely to miss the season, Fernando's return at least ensures the strength of Taishan's side.
The league may be in disarray with the full return of the new season.
This season, the Premier League seems to have gone back to the way it was in 2019, which is a joy for fans, but also puts pressure on teams. The running between home and away and the lack of adaptation could lead to more mishaps. In the first round of matches, the top three teams from last season, including Wuhan Sanzhen, Shandong Taishan and Zhejiang, all suffered losses, making this season's league suspense reborn.
It is worth mentioning that the excitement of the league has picked up, with every team playing with a full squad. The Shenhua-Taishan matchup was a stark contrast to last season's "four foreigners and a full Chinese team". A goal from Locadia, world waves from Tang Miao and Adrian, and the first career goal from 16-year-old Shahzati were all highlights of the first round of the 2023 Chinese Super League. The narrowing of the gap between the strengths of the teams signals a significant increase in the competitiveness and spectacle of the league.
More importantly, the fans returned. From Shanghai to Wuhan, to Zhengzhou and Beijing, every city's home stadium was flooded with passionate fans for the first time in three years. Three seasons of empty stadiums allowed the Chinese Super League to drift away from its fans. Now, that former joy is back with us.
So, where will the Chinese Super League end up this season? It's too early to draw conclusions at the beginning of the season, but it's safe to say that this season's Chinese Super League will reach its peak in recent years.
