As night falls, the Guangzhou Derby reignites, Cai Zonglin reporter reports that after the heated duel on the 24th, Guangzhou team is preparing non-stop for the 27th night, when they will challenge Shandong Taishan inside the Galaxy Stadium, a matchup that will undoubtedly be the pinnacle of the tournament.
Cannavaro said straight away that three consecutive tough matches - Guangzhou City, Shandong Taishan and Shenzhen - will be the biggest challenge facing the eight-time champions. Guangzhou came close to being shut out by Fellaini on a reading in the first round, and this game will be the key to the season.
Guangzhou Derby, the style of "Ejin" again
The Guangzhou Derby on the night of the 24th went from leading to trailing, then equalizing, and finally ended 3-3. This derby can be called the highest level of competition since the restart of the Chinese Super League. However, Guangzhou lost two points and the points gap was widened to three points by Shandong Taishan. Referee Shen Yinhao canceled Luo Guofu's killer header after the final whistle, leaving Cannavaro with a bitter smile at the conference, "Congratulations to all the players, they presented a wonderful game for the fans, but some of them, they didn't reach the level that this game deserved".
Despite failing to take all three points, the eight champions are not without reward. Cannavaro finally waited for the resurgence of Ackerson and Luo Guofu, and their return will be a huge boon for Guangzhou and the national team.
With the departure of "Pagoda Combination" and Guangzhou entering the era of "All Chinese Class", Cannavaro must maximize the use of the existing lineup to tap the potential and maintain competitiveness. In the existing lineup, the naturalized army must take more responsibility.
Eckerson has been back in form lately, with the National Team 40 helping his team advance to the Round of 12. Returning to the Guangzhou team with confidence, Eckerson was the lone bright spot for the eight champions in the 5th round bye before the restart.
After entering the Devil's Tournament, Eckerson was fully activated in the 343 formation, scoring three more goals against Qingdao and Guangzhou City, including the second goal against Guangzhou City, which was even more amazing, as if we saw the "Eishen" who won the Golden Boot of the Chinese Super League in the 2014 season.
Skinny Bison is as fierce as a tiger
Guangzhou's resurgent naturalized players are not the only ones in the team, but also Luo Guofu, who has successfully lost 20 pounds. The controversial naturalized player has had few playing opportunities over the past year due to injury. But for the 2021 season, he is preparing with the team and is determined to change the situation with brute force.
During the off-season, Cannavaro formulated a slimming program for him to lose 20 pounds, and Luo Guofu finally succeeded in reaching his goal and appeared in front of people with a brand new posture. Finding his best form, Luo Guofu gradually adapted to the rhythm of the game, from the match against Chongqing to the Guangzhou derby, he pulled out a swift Yang line.
What's more, Luo Guofu has recovered his once bison like impact power, full speed galloping and ferocious pressing, which has become a feature that other internationals don't have. As long as Luo Guofu maintains this form, both Cannavaro and Li Tie will benefit from it, which is the success of the naturalization strategy.
Activating the front line adds to the defense's woes
On the evening of the 27th, Guangzhou will face Shandong Taishan at the familiar Galaxy Stadium. The difference between the two teams is 3 points in this first battle of the Guangzhou tournament. If you can beat the opponent, Guangzhou team is expected to seize the top of the region; on the contrary, the points gap will be widened, to catch up with the hope is slim, this will be a real "6 points battle".
Looking back at the first round of meetings between the two sides, Guangzhou had only 5 shots on goal while Shandong Taishan had 16 shots on goal despite having the better possession. From the result, it was Guangzhou's only defeat in the Chinese Super League this season. From that 0-1 loss, it was clear that Guangzhou's offense was weak without Paulinho.
Through the adjustment in the interval, Cannavaro changed to 343 formation to enhance the team's offense. In the last 3 rounds of matches, Guangzhou scored 12 goals, activating all the players in the offensive line. However, the stability of Guangzhou's defense declined after the change to a three-guard formation. Facing the powerful Shandong Taishan, Guangzhou's defense will be tested even more.
With the dissipation of Typhoon Chapaka, the weather in Guangzhou is back to barbecue mode. In order to ensure the team's fitness and avoid injuries, Cannavaro will continue with his rotation program. The likes of Zhong Yi Hao and He Chao, who took the last game off, are expected to return to the starting lineup, and Fernando is close to making a comeback, but Moto is likely to be on the bench first, and Luo Guofu is expected to make his debut against his old club.
