這一年的中超，冠軍和降級楞是吊足胃口

2024 season of the Chinese Super League came to a magnificent end. Whether it was the title race or the relegation battle, the suspense lasted until the final moment.

Shanghai Seaport's championship has a high gold content. Not only did they successfully defend their title, but they also broke the record for the highest points, most goals, and most goal difference in the history of the Chinese Super League. They also set a milestone by achieving a record-breaking 14 consecutive wins in a single season.

01. Record-breaking champions: It belongs to Shanghai Seaport.

a. Aesthetic football emphasizes attacking supremacy.

After winning the Chinese Super League title last season, Shanghai Seaport replaced their head coach. The team that took the helm was an defending champion, but one year older.

Who would have thought that the Shanghai Seaport, who played without a striker last season and even had to rely on defensive tactics to narrowly win some matches, would completely transform this season into a team that emphasizes attacking supremacy.

They had a difficult start to the season due to injuries to new foreign players. They were held to draws by Zhejiang and Beijing Guoan in the first four rounds. It's worth noting that out of the 30 Chinese Super League matches Shanghai Seaport played, they only failed to win 3 points in 5 matches, with 40% happening in the first four rounds.

In the match against Shandong Taishan at home, Shanghai Seaport had their full complement of foreign players. Although they were once 1-3 behind, they eventually completed a remarkable 4-3 comeback, setting off a wave of red attacking frenzy.

The third goal scored by Shanghai Seaport in the comeback victory against Shandong Taishan could be called the tactical epitome of the entire season. Full-back Li Shuai controlled the landing point outside the penalty area, drawing a foul from the opponent. After a quick free-kick, Balgus turned and passed to Li Shuai on the flank, who then assisted Wu Lei in scoring from close range.

The four key points of Shanghai Seaport's attack this season - controlling the landing point and launching a second attack, receiving the ball under pressure in the rib area and passing it, overlapping runs from the full-back, and Wu Lei's central goal poaching - were all demonstrated in this goal.

In addition to this goal, Shanghai Seaport's goals in that match were also greatly influenced by set-piece plays. Not only the first wave, but also a large number of second attacks were initiated from set pieces. The center-backs did not return to their own penalty area, and instead played the ball back out. The forwards Gustavo, midfielders Qitadini and Wu Lei all posed a great threat in the set-piece attacks.

b. A champion with high gold content: Shanghai Seaport broke many records.

It is worth mentioning that Shanghai Seaport broke a lot of records during their title defense. Their previous highest points in the Chinese Super League was 68 points, achieved when they won the title in 2018. However, this season, they reached 69 points after only 26 rounds of matches.

After breaking the club's record, Shanghai Seaport continued to excel and ultimately won the championship with 78 points in 30 league matches, breaking the historical record of 77 points set by Guangzhou Evergrande in 2013.

In addition, Shanghai Seaport scored a total of 96 goals this season, significantly surpassing the record for the most goals in a single Chinese Super League season. They also surpassed the record for goal difference held by Guangzhou Evergrande, making their championship more convincing.

On the other hand, let's not forget the contribution of Wu Lei at any time. With him in the team, Shanghai Seaport became the most beautiful and special team in the Chinese Super League.

02. Shanghai Shenhua's runner-up & Chengdu's third place: Teams are improving.

a. Shanghai Shenhua's road to a comeback: Stopped by relegation-threatened Shenzhen.

Shanghai Shenhua had a good start to the season, but injuries to foreign players caused fluctuations in their performance as the season progressed.

However, the biggest advantage of this team is their deep squad. After changing their head coach, the team's defensive and offensive levels have improved. They not only maintained their defensive confidence from last season, but also significantly improved their attacking efficiency.

In particular, foreign player Luis had a good impact, which also activated Teixeira. This is the reason why Shanghai Shenhua can still compete for the title until the end.

The team not only always manages to stage comebacks, but Teixeira also frequently produces incredible long-range goals, which greatly boosts the team's morale.

In addition to the outstanding performance of their foreign players, Shanghai Shenhua's local veterans also deserve admiration. Substitute striker Yu Hanchao, who always scores when he comes off the bench in key moments, and Wu Xi, whose goals are always crucial, are both valuable assets to the team.

Eddie, the center-back, is an underrated player. Whether he plays as a center-back with his positioning choices and defensive awareness, or as a full-back with his off-ball positioning and passing stability, he has been a pleasant surprise for the team.

b. Chengdu Rongcheng finishes in third place: Whether they can play in the AFC Champions League depends on the Chinese FA Cup final.

Another team that has made significant progress this season is Chengdu Rongcheng. They finished third in the league, and their attacking and defensive systems have become more balanced.

In particular, in the match where they defeated Shanghai Seaport 3-1 at home, striker Felipe didn't even start, but they still displayed a high level of play.

Although Chengdu Rongcheng had issues with their scoring efficiency during the long season, they didn't shine as much as Shanghai's two teams due to their outstanding performances. However, compared to previous seasons, their points this season are still at a high level. The only suspense lies in the final of the Chinese FA Cup. If Shanghai Seaport can defeat Shandong Taishan, then Chengdu Rongcheng will appear in the next season's AFC Champions League, which will ease financial pressure and provide opportunities for further improvement.

03. Relegation battle equally fierce: The outcome may still be uncertain.

a. The road to relegation: relying on their own efforts.

In the final round of the Chinese Super League this season, apart from Nantong Zhiyun, who was already relegated with 22 points after 29 rounds, Cangzhou and Meizhou with 29 points, Haiwen and Shenzhen Xin Pengcheng with 26 points (as of the 29th round), all had the possibility of relegation.

Especially the match between Qingdao Haiwen and Cangzhou Xiongshi in Haiwen's home stadium attracted the attention of many fans. In the past two seasons, the title race has extended to the final match, but a relegation battle of this magnitude has brought the excitement to its peak in the final round.

In the end, Shenzhen Xin Pengcheng managed to escape relegation, while Meizhou Hakka and Nantong Zhiyun unfortunately dropped into the relegation zone. It should be said that everything relies on one's own efforts on the road to survival. Shenzhen Xin Pengcheng's ability to secure a crucial point at Shanghai Shenhua's home stadium not only became a lifeline for themselves, but also influenced the final outcome of the championship.

No team can stay in the Chinese Super League easily. Every team will play at a high level for their own future. This is our league, and it is the reason why it can attract more fans.

b. Relegation outcome: Perhaps it's still uncertain.

Although the names of the teams that dropped into the relegation zone have been revealed, the final relegation outcome may still be variable. On the one hand, all Chinese Super League teams have their own financial pressures, and no one can say for sure whether a team will go bankrupt and withdraw from the league.

On the other hand, it is possible that some clubs may be involved in the previously heavily punished match-fixing and gambling case, which may result in relegation penalties. As long as the investors are willing to stay in the Chinese Super League, even if they are already in the relegation zone, there may still be a chance for them to turn things around.

The Chinese Super League has finished this season, and the new year's league will attract even more anticipation from football fans. Can Shanghai Seaport, who is a year older, maintain their lead? Can Shanghai Shenhua, with their deep squad, continue their upward trajectory? Chengdu Rongcheng, Beijing Guoan, and Shandong Taishan all have the ability to challenge for the title. What roles will they play in the next season?

In conclusion, we always have a special affection for our own league. The roller-coaster journey can attract more people's attention and love. Our Chinese Super League is gradually regaining its attraction, and it also possesses a certain level of competitiveness on the AFC Champions League stage. Is Chinese football making a comeback? At least the U16 national team's good performance gives us more confidence.