The Chinese language Tremendous League returns in the present day with all 16 of the league’s groups in motion this week. And the league will get off to a vigorous with highlights together with the Guangzhou Metropolis Derby between Guangzhou and Guangzhou Metropolis and the traditional China Derby between Shanghai Shenhua and Beijing Guoan.
This primary week ought to give us respectable concept of how the remainder of the season will go and the way some groups will cope with out key gamers who’re at present caught in Brazil and unable to enter the nation.
Chongqing Liangjiang Athletic v Shandong Taishan
Tuesday, twentieth April
Guangzhou College City Sports activities Middle Stadium , Guangzhou
Chongqing Liangjiang Athletic had an honest season final yr however have misplaced quite a lot of vital gamers within the low season and can probably come up quick in opposition to a stable and skilled Shandong Taishan staff.
Shandong are with out Brazilian’s Roger Guedes and Moises who’re each caught in Brazil because of Covid restrictions. However have managed to herald Brazilian striker Leonardo from Urawa Pink Diamonds as late substitute for Guedes.
Leonardo ought to present a viable focus for Shandong upfront. However the sport will more than likely be gained in midfield, the place Shandong ought to have a dominant pairing in ex-Man United star Marouane Fellaini and 2020 Okay League 1 MVP Son Jun-ho.
One to look at – Son Jun-ho – A high quality field to field midfielder who can break up assaults and create possibilities.
Prediction – 2-0 win for Taishan, with Chongqing being overrun in the midst of the park.
Guangzhou v Guangzhou Metropolis
Tuesday, twentieth April
Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou
The Guangzhou groups would be the solely CSL sides who get get pleasure from residence benefit within the first 14 spherical of this years competitors. And Guangzhou shall be trying to make their residence benefit rely of their opening match as they play at their regular residence stadium in opposition to native rivals Guangzhou Metropolis.
Metropolis are anticipated to ditch the gung-ho attacking model of soccer that they’ve develop into related to over the previous few years. And play a extra conservative model of soccer beneath new supervisor Jean-Paul van Gastel. This will likely repay over the course of the season, however in opposition to Guangzhou they’re more likely to be merely outclassed by one of many CSL’s greatest groups.
One to look at – Wei Shihao – With Brazilians Talisca and Paulinho at present locked out of China, the proficient playmaker ought to get extra enjoying time and have an actual probability to shine.
Prediction – Guangzhou blow Metropolis away in 3-0 win.
Qingdao v Cangzhou Mighty Lions
Wednesday, twenty first April
Yuexiushan Stadium, Guangzhou
Two groups with vastly contrasting off-seasons meet at one among China’s most historic stadiums for what needs to be probably the most fascinating match ups of week one. Either side had been fairly poor final yr however Cangzhou underwent an in depth rebuild of their squad following their relocation from Shijiazhuang, whereas Qingdao had been comparatively inactive the switch market.
Cangzhou’s low season funding ought to make the distinction on Tuesday. Their squad now options quite a lot of gamers who regulars in Jiangsu’s title successful marketing campaign final yr. And they need to now have sufficient high quality to have the ability to comfortably see off the likes Qingdao.
One to look at – Adama Diomande – The Norwegian striker was Cangzhou’s largest signing this winter and he might want to repeatedly discover the online in these form of video games.
Prediction – A 2-0 win for Cangzhou because the Mighty Lions get off to a roaring begin.
Henan Songshan Longmen v Shenzhen
Wednesday, twenty first April
Huadu Stadium, Guangzhou
Two of the groups who’re anticipated to place in a significantly better exhibiting in 2021 meet in what guarantees to be one of many rounds most evenly contested match ups. That can see two of the leagues prime overseas coaches in Jordi Cruyff and Javier Pereria go face to face.
Henan shall be significantly better defensively this yr. With Bosnian Toni Sunjic now on the membership on long-term foundation and combative younger full-back Dilmurat Mawlanyaz signing from Chongqing this winter. However will probably be an actual take a look at for them to see if they’ll maintain off Shenzhen, given the quantity of overseas attacking expertise the Guangdong membership has introduced on this low season.
One to look at – Wu Yan – A wonderful shot-stopper and one among China’s most underrated goalkeepers, he’ll probably should be on prime type for Henan to have the ability to get one thing from the sport.
Prediction – 0-0 Henan climate the storm in opposition to a Shenzhen assault that hasn’t fairly gelled but.
Dalian Professional v Changchun Yatai
Thursday, twenty second April
Jiangyin Sports activities Centre Stadium, Suzhou
Changchun Yatai return to the Chinese language Tremendous League after a two yr depart of absence and shall be trying to get off the mark of their opening match in opposition to Dalian Professional.
Dalian Professional didn’t considerably put money into enhancing their squad this winter after a disappointing 2020 and could possibly be significantly out gunned by a Changchun aspect that has introduced in an array of proficient overseas forwards this low season.
One to look at – Junior Negrao – One East Asia’s most prolific purpose scorers lately, new signing Negrao shall be trying to hit the bottom operating in opposition to Dalian Professional.
Prediction – 3-1 to Changchun as they carry their momentum from final yr into the brand new season.
Tianjin Jinmen Tiger v Shanghai Port
Thursday, twenty second April
Kunshan Sports activities Centre Stadium, Suzhou
Tianjin Tiger play Shanghai Port on Thursday in what’s going to probably be one the largest mismatches of the season.
Tainjin struggled in 2020 after which had an enormous chunk of their enjoying employees depart within the low season on account of the monetary points that plagued the membership this winter. Going into their opening match in opposition to Shanghai Port they’ve a naked bones squad that’s being considered as presumably the worst the CSL has seen since its inception.
How precisely Tianjin will shuffle their restricted deck of playing cards for Thursday’s sport is anybody’s guess. However nevertheless they line up they will be severely out gunned by one of many league’s prime groups.
One to look at – Aaron Mooy – The Australian hit a shock hat-trick in pre-season and may have the ability to put in a dominant exhibiting in opposition to Tiger.
Prediction – 5-0 Port run riot in what’s going to probably be the primary of many drubbings for Tiger.
Hebei v Wuhan
Friday, twenty third April
Suzhou Sports activities Centre Stadium, Suzhou
Two evenly matched groups meet in Friday’s opening sport. Wuhan narrowly averted relegation final yr, however needs to be a significantly better staff this time spherical with Li Xiaopeng on the helm. Whether or not they are going to be ok to notch a win of their opening match stays to be seen nevertheless.
Hebei have regressed considerably since final yr and their assault gained’t be the identical with out Ricardo Goulart, however Wuhan even have issues of their very own upfront with Brazilians Rafael Silva and Leo Baptistao at present unable to enter China.
Ultimately we might see each side cancel one another out as they wrestle to regulate to having extra restricted attacking choices.
One to look at – Marcao – If Hebei are in a position to convey him into the sport, Wuhan could possibly be in bother.
Prediction – 0-0 stalemate with neither aspect doing fairly sufficient to interrupt the impasse.
Shanghai Shenhua v Beijing Guoan
Friday, twenty third April
Kunshan Sports activities Centre Stadium, Suzhou
Two of the Chinese language Tremendous League’s most historic golf equipment meet to play out one of many Chinese language soccer’s oldest rivalries in Suzhou on Friday evening.
Shenhua have introduced in just a few respectable signings over the winter, however haven’t improved sufficiently to be anyplace close to near the identical degree as Guoan. Guoan have constantly been one of many league’s prime sides over the previous few years and needs to be trying to take all three factors in Slaven Bilic’s first aggressive sport in cost.
Shenhua needs to be stable on the again although and if they’ll maintain out for the primary 45 they may have the ability to sneak a outcome.
One to look at – Matej Jonjic – The Croatian centre-back was one among Shenhua’s large signings this low season and can face a stern take a look at in opposition to Guoan.
Prediction – Guoan edge out a nervy 1-0 win.
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