The upcoming Chinese Super League match between Qingdao Hainiu and Shandong Taishan will take place between November 22nd and 24th, which coincides with the end of the league and the end of the battle in the Central League. Taishan is determined to advance to the next level, with the overall strength and configuration of their squad. The defending champions' sense of honor drives them to go all out, and every game is considered a fight to the death.
If the Taishan team succeeds in defeating Qingdao Hainiu, the 1/8 final opponent will be the winner of the match between Zibo Cuju and Shenzhen. Zibo Cuju's performance in this season's Central League is moderate, and there are many Luneng youth training products in the team, such as Ji Shengpan, Zhang Yuanshu, Ma Shuai, Zhang Chen, etc. In contrast, Shenzhen's strength is better than that of the AFC Cup. In contrast, the Shenzhen team strength is better, the AFC Cup on the field whether they are willing to go further, will be the focus of the game.
Meanwhile, Tai'an Tian Kuang and Jinan Xingzhou are also aiming at the stage of AFC Cup. According to the system, the top three in the second league can be qualified to participate in the competition, the two teams are making every effort to impact the first group, if they can win the championship, the first round will be dueling with Changchun Yatai, the runner-up will challenge Wuhan three towns, and the third runner-up will meet Cangzhou Lions, which are valuable opportunities to improve.
The top four of the Chinese Super League gathered in the top half of the zone, and the competition was white-hot. Shanghai Seaport dominates the lower half of the zone, and the addition of new signings such as Wu Lei has certainly enhanced the team's competitiveness in the F.A.C. Cup. However, they still have to face strong teams such as Chengdu Rongcheng, Dalian Ren and Zhejiang.
Beijing Guoan and Guangzhou City had good luck with their draws, with their first round opponents being Chinese Champions League (CCL) teams, making it relatively easy for them to advance. The strength of the Chinese Super League teams is superior, but the FA Cup always has an unexpected cold streak, which is also part of its charm. Every year, the AFC Cup has a dark horse award to motivate teams from lower leagues. Taishan is on the way to a third consecutive F.A.C.A. Cup title, and every game is a new challenge. For now, the team needs to focus on the Chinese Super League to ensure stable play in the FFA Cup in November. The match against Shenzhen scheduled for September 9 has been postponed for some reason, and the team has resumed training since the 4th. Key players such as Fellaini, Cressan and Song Long need to get back to form as soon as possible to ensure that they will play consistently in the upcoming matches.
