With the first round of the new season of the AFC Champions League, the overall performance of the Chinese Super League teams is worrying. The three teams have a record of 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss, which not only indicates the decline of the competitiveness of the Chinese Super League teams, but also exposes the downward trend of the whole picture of Chinese soccer. In this competitive feast, a few happy and a few sad, at the same time, Southeast Asia's Thai soccer is showing a vibrant scene, the first round of the Asian Championship with 2 wins and 1 loss record proud of the group.
A record three Thai Premier League clubs are among the AFC Champions League participants in the new season, while the Chinese Super League has only three teams in the competition. In the qualifying round, the Thai super teams launched a fierce attack on the Chinese Super League teams. Pathum United defeated the Chinese Super League leaders 3-2 to enter the Hong Kong tournament. The rise of Thai soccer is now indisputable.
The first round of AFC Champions League matches saw very different performances from the two leagues' teams. The Chinese Super League teams were at a slight disadvantage, with Wuhan Sanzhen, Shandong Taishan and Zhejiang in action, while Thailand's Pathum United, Bangkok United and Buriram were also in action. The matchup between Buriram and Zhejiang was particularly notable, with Buriram winning 4-1, while Pathum United lost 1-3 against Ulsan Hyundai, and Bangkok United won 2-1 against the Lion City Mariners.
The Chinese teams also had their own performances, with Shandong Taishan defeating Kaya 3-1 away from home, earning dignity for the old Chinese Super League giants. It is worth noting that Shanghai Harbour had suffered a ludicrous 0-1 defeat against Kaya in the 2021 AFC Champions League play-offs. Shandong Taishan's victory undoubtedly doubled the relief of countless fans in Hong Kong.
Wuhan Three Town hosted defending champions Urawa Red Diamonds in this round, and despite taking the lead twice, they were eventually tied. As a newcomer to the AFC Champions League, it was not easy to keep control of the game with a lead, but unfortunately it was not possible to win. In the first round of matches, the three Chinese Super League teams have a record of 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss, slightly inferior to the Thai Super League team's 2 wins and 1 loss.
Judging from the performance of the three teams alone, the difference between winning and losing a match is not that big. However, it is worrying that Pathum United knocked out Shanghai Hong Kong 3-2 and Buriram beat Zhejiang 4-1 in the qualifying rounds, which certainly shows that the overall strength of the Thai super teams has surpassed that of the Chinese Super League (CSL) teams and that they are no longer afraid to face them. These Thai internationals will face the Chinese men's soccer team when they return to the national team, and they are no longer afraid to do so.
The draw between Thailand and China in the 36-team World Cup tournament was quite dramatic. These two teams are in direct competition and the focus is on who will make it to the top 18. So far, all the league teams are performing very well in the AFC Champions League. Therefore, China should be extremely careful in their double-header against Thailand, and the prospect of victory is not promising. If they fail to beat Thailand, China is likely to be eliminated from the 36-team tournament.
