In the soccer arena, Hebei's fifth-round showdown with Beijing Guoan had to be postponed, which made Shanghai Shenhua's 1-1 score the final chapter of the stage tournament. Hebei thus completed the first stage of its journey.
Two wins and two draws in four matches, eight points and undefeated, is a result that the Riverbenders can be proud of.
Stalwarts after the Top 6
Reviewing the strength of the teams at this stage, Shanghai Harbor, Beijing Guoan, Guangzhou, Shandong Taishan, Shanghai Shenhua and Shenzhen are undoubtedly the six strongest teams.
After four rounds of matches, Taishan led the table with 10 points, Shanghai Harbor and Shanghai Shenhua accumulated 8 points, Guangzhou and Shenzhen were 7 points, and Beijing Guoan accumulated 6 points. Hebei's 8 points make it an "anomaly" that can't be ignored.
Rivera's strengths are not based on location alone
Despite the geographic advantage that facilitated Hebei's scoring, the match against Shanghai Shenhua also proved that Hebei is not solely dependent on location.
Outside of the top six, Rivera could be one of the top three teams in the fight
If the other teams outside of the top six were evaluated in a comprehensive manner, Rivera would probably rank among the top three fighting teams out of the remaining 10.
Strengths of the Riverhounds: three lines of stability, a strong front line, and a strong midfield
One of Rivera's major strengths is that all three lines of the team are performing well, unlike other teams that are prone to having a weak front and a strong back.
Up front, Malcolm's presence as the fulcrum ensures the team's basic attacking power, despite the team's lack of a blitzing striker, is enough to bolster the team's attack with the limited return of foreigners.
In the midfield, players such as Yin Hongbo, Wang Qiuming, Paulinho and Cernus performed well, and their complementary technical characteristics provided strong support to the team's midfield.
Solid backline and solid goalkeeper play
The back line of Zhang Chengdong, Memishevich and Pan Ximing was outstanding, with Memishevich's performance being particularly impressive, and Zhang Chengdong and Pan Ximing's defensive abilities were also praiseworthy. Goalkeeper Ji Wenyi's overall performance was also quite good.
River Plate's starting lineup is trustworthy, but the bench is a little thin, and the young players are making a difference
Hebei has a strong starting lineup, but a relatively weak bench. However, the performance of the young players is noteworthy, 24-year-old Cui Lin has become the best of the young players, and the u23 players in the position of side forward, Mr. Xu Chen and Liao Wei, have also been given a lot of opportunities.
River Plate's strength is not to be underestimated, and their performance in the Premier League is not to be trifled with
The Riverhounds are in the upper mid-table of the league and they have done a pretty good job of being technical, tactical and cohesive.
Rivera's cohesion is one of their strengths
Hebei has attracted many international players and big-name foreigners, but the team used to face teething problems. With the restructuring of the team, the Hebei team now has a simple structure and strong cohesion.
Where the Riverhounds are headed for a makeover: technique, tactics and fitness
Head coach Kim Jong-woo said the team will focus on breaking through technical, tactical and fitness issues for the upcoming matches.
The Riverhounds need to be prepared for the future as they face certain challenges
The Riverhounds will need to be well prepared as they will face some challenges in terms of their lineup and foreign aid.
River Plate can't afford to let up, working on fitness is key for them
The Riverhounds will need to remain vigilant and give their all to improve their fitness for the challenges ahead.
