Shandong Taishan, the triple champion, has made many brilliant achievements on the stage of the AFC Cup. 2020 to 2022, they sealed the title for three consecutive times, and became the rightful hegemon. However, this season's road to the AFC Cup, although there is a chance to win the championship, but it is not a straight road. Shanghai Harbor and Shanghai Shenhua are also eyeing the title and should not be underestimated.
The upcoming AFC Elite League play-offs could be Shandong Taishan's final battle for redemption this season.
Bangkok United vs Shandong Taishan
Nature of Match: AFC Elite League Play-Offs
Competition time: August 13, 20:00
In the 2024 season, Shandong Taishan finished second in the Chinese Super League, but earned a spot in the AFC Elite League playoffs as a result. Bangkok United, on the other hand, also managed to qualify for the play-offs in the 2023-24 season.
In the last three rounds of the Chinese Super League, Shandong Taishan lost away to Henan and drew with Shanghai Harbor at home, and the media have pointed the finger at Cui Kangxi. But the assistant coach has done his best in the case of shortage of personnel and strong opponents. Cui Kangxi's return, 1:3 away from Cangzhou Lions, but what does it say?
Currently, Shandong Taishan's toughest problem lies in an unorganized lineup, with a wave of injuries and illnesses to foreigners like last season's Manchester United. Top scorer Kressan left the field injured and is in rehabilitation; although Kazayishvili is the perfect foreign striker, Zeca has not yet participated in the team's training; on the back line, Liu Yang may be injured, Gao Zhunyi is suspended, and Wu Xinghan has been removed from the list.
Meanwhile, Bangkok United, as a strong team in the Thai Premier League, has a total team value of up to 7.53 million euros, and six foreign aiders have been assembled in Jinan.
If Shandong Taishan wins, it will go through to the elite AFC Champions League; otherwise, it could be relegated to the second tier of the AFC Champions League, just as European teams can't get into the Champions League or UEFA Cup. Last season, Zhejiang, the third-place finisher in the Chinese Super League, was in the second tier of the AFC Champions League. Under the AFC, there is also the European Association League and the AFC Challenge League, a complete three-tier league system.
Despite the hopelessness of the Chinese Super League, the uncertainty of the AFC Cup and the seemingly unattainable prospect of winning the AFC Championship, Shandong Taishan must not give up. If defeated by the Thai super team, Shandong Taishan may be in the middle of an eventful period, but not so much as to be drowned out by public opinion.
This is undoubtedly a tough game for Shandong Taishan, but it's not impossible to beat Bangkok United if they regain the fighting spirit and effort they put into their previous home game against Shanghai Seaport. Playing at home, they have a slight advantage in terms of strength. A promotion to the AFC Elite League would not only explain it all to the fans, but also boost the team's sagging morale.
