As night falls, the drums of war are beating for the 2024 Chinese Super League season, with Shandong Taishan and Changchun Yatai kicking off the season at 1800hrs. Then, at 20:00, the defending champions Shanghai Seaport and Wuhan Sanzhen played a tough match at the Pudong Football Stadium, adding more suspense to the opening game.
18:00, first round matchup - Shandong Taishan against Changchun Yatai.
Five days ago, Shandong Taishan had to advance their first round match as they will meet Yokohama Marinos in the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League. With the team's centerpiece, Liao Li, injured, it is expected to see if new signing Cressan will be able to give Taishan a winning start to the season tonight.
19:35, another match in the first round - Qingdao Coast vs Henan.
With 34-year-old naturalized player Alan returning to the Chinese Super League, Qingdao West Coast is not to be underestimated as a dark horse. In Henan, the club has completed its shareholding reform, and they are still the only club among the 16 teams in the Chinese Super League to successfully sell their team name.
20:00, First Round Finale - Shanghai Harbor vs Wuhan Sanzhen (Opening Match).
Seaport's road to defending their title this season is full of challenges, and their recent Super Cup loss to Shenhua has put them under pressure. Whether Jiang Guangtai can make a comeback in this crucial battle, and whether Chitadini can quickly integrate into the team will be the key factors to determine the direction of the game.
