China Premier League (CPL)
The full restart has entered the countdown stage, in the face of the restructuring of the competition system, the clubs have long been planning for a rainy day. The league schedule has to be so under the double impact of the epidemic and the World Cup. What is about to unfold in front of everyone will be an exceptionally tough season with a tight schedule and unprecedented challenges.
Under the same rules of the game, no team can be significantly advantaged and no team will be significantly disadvantaged. However, this is not a regular, full season, and teams will be affected differently under the new system.
For teams aiming for the title, the second phase of the competition is much more difficult, facing stronger opponents, and grabbing points becomes even more difficult. Against this backdrop, it is especially crucial to grab as many points as possible in the remaining 9 rounds of the first phase.
At the end of the season, in the calculation of total points, there is no difference between the points gained from the first stage against the relegation team and the points gained from the second stage against the team charging for the championship. Currently, Guangzhou and Guoan have fallen behind, and if they can't catch up quickly with Harbor and Taishan, the road to catching up in the future will be more and more difficult.
For relegated teams, the second stage will be crucial. By then, the opponents are relatively weakened, making it less difficult to win. However, against teams in the same position, any mistake could lead to the final fate of the season.
The mid-table teams are in different situations and for them the first stage is far more important than the second. If they finish in the top four of the group, the second phase will result in either a direct exit or a top eight finish. If they finish fifth in the group due to a one-point difference, even if they do well in the second phase, they will only finish ninth in the Super League at best.
The spotlight is undoubtedly on the Championship Group, with the worst outcome for teams in the relegation zone being to finish in the last two places and play in the play-offs. Even the worst Premier League teams will have a clear advantage against the third and fourth places in the Central League. It's a virtually pressure-free season, and as a result, many clubs have adopted a strategy of tightening their belts and taking things as they come.
Of particular concern is the fact that several teams are mired in rumors of unpaid salaries and are considered at risk of not being able to finish the season. While quitting in the middle of the season won't happen, the issue of stability in the league is indeed a serious concern.
