Reports brought to you by reporter Chen Yong reveal that the 2023 Chinese Super League season presents a picture of intense competition. Players are running like flies and the confrontation is extremely fierce. With the exception of a few teams, such as Shenzhen, the gap between most teams is negligible, often separated by a single goal, and the suspense of the game often extends to the end of the game. In the penultimate round, the title was decided, while the final round was about the Champions League seat, the relegated team and the top scorer.
Despite the low expectations for the league at the beginning of the season, as the season progressed, fans' enthusiasm was ignited, matches were exceptionally close and the overall performance far exceeded expectations. However, the league still needs to improve at the technical and tactical levels, speed up the pace of play, increase the net game time, raise the intensity of the confrontation, and strengthen the disciplinary management on the bench and on the field.
The 2023 season saw a significant increase in the intensity of CSL matchups, with an average of 101.64 matchups per game, much higher than the previous three seasons. Compared with Japan's J-League (100.68 times) and South Korea's K-League (101.60 times), the Chinese Super League's confrontation figures are slightly higher. During the matches, foreign aiders also commented on the intense confrontation in the Chinese Super League. It is worth noting that the average number of yellow cards in the Chinese Super League (3.79) is much higher than that of the J-League (2.82) and the K-League (3.57), which reflects the fierce competition.
Super League teams have invested more in the offensive end of the field this season, averaging 2.77 goals per game, with both chances per game and shots per game up from last season. There have been more draws and one-goal games, with 67 draws in 240 matches, or 27.92%, far more than in the 2022 season. Additionally, more than 80% of the games remained in doubt in the final minute, showing that teams are becoming more balanced and games are more intense.
At the end of the 28th round of the season, the Champions League, Champions League quota and relegated teams are still unclear. Shanghai Port was 5 points ahead of Shandong Taishan, and Shandong Taishan, Shanghai Shenhua, Zhejiang, Beijing Guoan and Chengdu Rongcheng all had a chance to compete for the AFC Champions League qualification. In the 29th round, Shanghai Port won the championship, the top four teams in the league were finalized, and the relegated teams were revealed in the last round.
The season has seen a polarization of the Chinese Super League table. Tianjinmen Tigers are 9 points ahead of Changchun Yatai, close in strength but with a slight difference in performance. The relegation of Shenzhen and Dalian actually reflects the decline of gold dollar soccer. 2023 season, the table ranking is basically proportional to the strength of the team, and the civilian teams perform eye-catching.
In the 2024 season, the stratification of the groups in the Chinese Super League is clear, with teams such as Shanghai Port, Shandong Taishan and Zhejiang expected to occupy the upper group. Tianjin Jinmen Tigers and Changchun Yatai are in the middle of the pack, while Meizhou Hakka and Cangzhou Lions are typical civilian teams. There is a gap between the technical and tactical level of the Chinese Super League and the Japanese and Korean leagues, especially in the AFC Champions League.
Improving the quality of the Premier League requires more confrontation, higher tempo and improved technical and tactical levels. 2023 season saw intense confrontation and the first step towards recovery, but the technical and tactical levels still need to be improved. 2024 season, the key is to improve the tempo of the game and the net playing time.
Net game time in the Chinese Super League has declined in the 2023 season and needs to be improved by strictly enforcing substitution discipline and ground discipline. The CFL and clubs need to improve the quality of matches by strengthening training for referees, reducing misjudgments, and strictly penalizing behaviors such as delaying game time.
The fierce competition and suspense of the Chinese Super League has demonstrated its unique charm. In the future, the Chinese Super League will continue to strive to improve its level and contribute to the development of Chinese soccer.
