With the 28th round of the Chinese Super League yet to draw to a close, the pattern of the table is already emerging. Nonetheless, the rankings in key positions have been solidified. For now, our focus is on points and rankings. The top three places are settled, while the relegation spots at the bottom are yet to be revealed. In fact, the penultimate round of the championship may be out of reach. Theoretically, both Taishan and Hong Kong need a win to secure a place in the standings.
Hong Kong led the way with five points, followed by Taishan with a three-point lead.
Lumi international soccer Kan Dashan first headlines
Unless they lose two consecutive matches, the title will be hard to shake. Given Taishan's past record, even if they meet a tough opponent, the worst that can happen is a draw. While SIPG has a long break, Taishan has played consecutive matches and has suffered a lot of physical exertion.
For Hong Kong, a draw with Taishan is enough, only a solid defense is needed. Taishan must win if they want to keep the suspense and ensure the firepower on the offensive end. The title is not in doubt, but the battle for the second place is still a complicated one. If Taishan wins in the next round, they can lock up the second place. However, considering the points of the following teams, the pattern of the top three is basically clear.
Shenhua are expected to compete for second place, while the race for third place is relatively stable. While Guoan and Zhejiang are still theoretically possible, Shenhua need only one win to secure third place.
Lumi international soccer Kan Dashan first headlines
Theoretically, it is possible for Guoan and Sanzhen to catch up with Shenhua, but the difference in points is only one goal. For Taishan, they are currently 5 points ahead of Zhejiang and 6 points ahead of Guoan, making it difficult for Guoan to catch up. Zhejiang will have to beat Shenhua in their last game if they want to overtake them, otherwise Shenhua will stay in third place. Taishan is not worried about the top three, but the second place is still variable.
Shenhua and Zhejiang are crucial matches, with a win securing the top three. Guoan's next opponents are Shenzhen and Chengdu Rongcheng. Guoan is expected to win both games, but the battle for third place will depend on Shenhua's play. A draw between Taishan and Shanghai means both teams remain unchanged.
The relegation situation will depend on the next round of fixtures, where the Manatees and Dalian Ren will face off to decide who will succeed in relegation. Although Manatees will give their all, it is still unknown whether they will be able to score goals or not. Dalian Ren will mainly look for chances, but their ability to score goals is limited. The result of this match will decide the relegation fate. In fact, Meizhou Hakka and Manatees do not have a must-win situation at the moment, so it is difficult to predict the result of this round of relegation.
In the current standings, all positions are still up for grabs except for the champions and relegated teams. However, many of the rankings are pretty much set in stone and no major changes are expected.
