With the outbreak gradually being contained, the much-anticipated new season
China Super League (soccer league)
The league's kickoff date is officially locked at April 20th. In light of concerns about a resurgence of the epidemic, the new season of the
China Super League (soccer league)
The league will continue to adopt a very different format from previous seasons: it will be divided into three phases of "14+8+8", with a total of 30 rounds of matches throughout the season. The two major cities of Guangzhou and Suzhou will be the main battlegrounds in the first stage, and the final ranking will be determined by the total points. For the strongest teams, this season's format is more of a league format, which tests the stability of the teams, rather than last season's cup format, which was more focused on clinical play.
The framework of the competition is set, but the details are yet to be revealed.
"14+8+8" makes up the new season
China Super League (soccer league)
The framework of the league's system of play. In the first stage, a double round-robin is played within each group for a total of 14 rounds. Going into the second stage, the top 4 of group a and the 5-8 of group b form a new group, and the top 4 of group b and the 5-8 of group a do the same, and again play a double round-robin within the groups, but the teams that have already played each other in the first stage will not face each other again, for a total of 8 rounds. In the third stage, the top 4 from group a and the top 4 from group b in the first stage, as well as the top 5-8 from group a and the top 5-8 from group b, form a new group and again play an intra-group double round robin for a total of 8 rounds. Since the ranking will be determined by the total points, even if a team performs poorly in the first stage, it has a chance to make a comeback through subsequent adjustments.
It has been confirmed that Guangzhou and Suzhou will host the first phase of the tournament, while the details of the second and third phases of the tournament have yet to be finalized. If the outbreak is effectively controlled, the home-and-away system may be resumed for the second and third phases of the tournament, allowing fans to cheer for their teams on site.
China Super League (soccer league)
Impact of Expansion Program on Mid- and Lower-Tier Teams
In celebration of the new season
China Super League (soccer league)
While the league is about to kick off, we can't overlook next season's
China Super League (soccer league)
The impact of the "expansion" program on the lower and mid-table teams. Next season
China Super League (soccer league)
It will be expanded to 18 teams, so the rules for promotion and relegation have changed considerably this season. The top two teams in this season's Central League 1 will be promoted directly to the
China Super League (soccer league)
and third and fourth place will be tied with
China Super League (soccer league)
The bottom two finishers and second place finishers of the tournament play a play-in game, with the winner earning a 2022 season
China Super League (soccer league)
League qualification.
The expansion program is very important for
China Super League (soccer league)
There is undoubtedly good news for the middle and lower relegation teams. With the elimination of the direct relegation places, even the bottom two teams have a chance to stay in the play-offs through the
China Super League (soccer league)
that ease the pressure on teams to survive. The Central League, on the other hand, has a chance to gain a 1+1+0.5+0.5 promotion spot to the
China Super League (soccer league)
The chances are greater. Also, the increase in the number of teams helps to reduce relegation pressure and increase the margin for error as teams adjust and adapt to new formations. However.
China Super League (soccer league)
Can the commercial value of the league sustain 18 teams? The impact of the epidemic on the
China Super League (soccer league)
Is it too much of a rush to expand? These are questions that will take time to answer.
Strengths old and new, teams closest to each other in the new season?
New season, familiar faces - Changchun Yatai returns with the glory of the Central League title
China Super League (soccer league)
With the best striker in China League One, Tan Long, leading the domestic squad, and imported foreigner Junior scoring in warm-up matches against Shanghai Seaport and Beijing Guoan, Changchun Yatai has vowed to repeat its historic success in the new season with a strong and motivated squad. Traditional giants Shanghai Shenhua have signed Wu Xi and Jonić, and with a squad full of famous players, will also be looking to make an impact at the top of the league. Shenzhen, Wuhan and Henan Songshan Dragons have also invested heavily in the new season, and all of them have outstanding international and quasi-international players in their squads. These five teams will play in the new season's
China Super League (soccer league)
Making new waves in the league.
Beijing Guoan, Guangzhou, Shandong Taishan and Shanghai Seaport have shown their determination in the new season. Shandong Taishan introduced Shi Ke, Ji Xiang, Xu Xin and other powerful players, while Shanghai Seaport signed Dujia and Li Ang to further enhance the depth of the team. The determination of the two teams to be champions in the new season is also obvious. Beijing Guoan also hung up their lottery tickets while making minor repairs, introducing young players such as He Xiaoyu and Cao Tianyi to prepare for the future. Guangzhou, on the other hand, is the most low-key of the four giants, and they have welcomed the return of Allan and the promotion of young players without any large sums of money to bring in reinforcements. Although there are no big moves, Guangzhou is still a force to be reckoned with in the league with many naturalized players.
Guangzhou City in the south have continued their strategy of maintaining stability in their squad this season, as have Chongqing Liangjiang Athletic. However, the northern Dalian people's foreign aid loss is more serious, Hamsik and Long Dong have returned to the team, the current lineup of reliable center forward seems to be only one Boateng. Geographically similar, but sad and happy are not the same. Qingdao, next door to Dalian Ren, has welcomed Zou Zheng and other veterans to join the team, and it is up to Wu Jingui to see if he can coach the team well in the new season. Cangzhou Lions also introduced Jiangsu old Xie Pengfei and Shanghai harbor Lin Chuangyi for relegation. The only highlight of Tianjin Jinmen Tigers' transfer period is the appointment of Tianjin soccer star Yu Genwei as the team's head coach. Hebei's new season has seen a large number of strong players leaving, and the team's strength has declined severely. Tianjin Jinmen Tiger and Hebei will have a difficult road to relegation in the new season.
Under the influence of policies such as "salary limits" and "name changes".
China Super League (soccer league)
The clubs' investment in the transfer market has been drastically reduced, and the concept of attracting reinforcements based on practicality has gradually become the mainstream. Due to the cutback of big-name foreign aid and the frequent flow of internal aid in the past two years, the strength of each team in the new season also tends to be close to each other, and the 2021 season may become the most competitive season in recent years.
Surprises abound, with the first four rounds of the Spotlight
Along with the announcement of the start date and format, the journey of the new season has also surfaced. The first four rounds of the new season are full of highlights. In the first round, there is not only the Guangzhou Derby - Guangzhou versus Guangzhou City, but also the classic match between Shanghai Shenhua and Beijing Guoan. After the Guangzhou Derby, Guangzhou will have to face a hard battle against Shandong Luneng. The other city derby, the Shanghai Derby, is scheduled for the third round, and Shanghai SIPG has to play Beijing Guoan in the second round before playing the Shanghai Derby. In the fourth round of the league, fans will again welcome Shandong Luneng and Qingdao Qilu derby.
Meanwhile, in the first round of matches, the match between Dalian People and Changchun Yatai is also highly anticipated. In the last round of the 2018 league, Pete or Dalian side defeated Changchun Yatai 2-0 successfully relegated and sent Changchun Yatai to the Central League. In the new season, facing the comeback of Changchun Yatai, this competition will certainly be able to collide with different sparks.
soccer league
Surprising in the organization of the new season's journey.
