Shanghai SIPG and Jiangsu Suning are charging ahead on both Chinese Super League and AFC Champions League fronts, drawing comparisons to the excitement and intensity seen in the Live Cricket BPL. Powered by their Brazilian trio—Elkeson, Hulk, and Oscar—Shanghai SIPG has emerged as a top contender for a double-title run. Meanwhile, despite failing to secure a win in their first two CSL rounds, Suning has delivered a perfect three-win streak in the AFC Champions League, offering fans a silver lining.
If both teams can defeat their Japanese opponents in the next round, they will qualify early with two group-stage matches to spare—setting a new milestone for Chinese clubs in continental competition. Currently, they’ve matched the record set by Beijing Guoan and Guangzhou Evergrande in 2015 for the best start in the ACL with three straight wins. Now, they’re on the verge of making history again by clinching early qualification sooner than any Chinese Super League club has before.
In contrast, Guangzhou Evergrande finds itself in a tight spot. Of the CSL’s “BIG3,” they are under the most pressure. With Suwon Samsung catching up in points, Evergrande must defeat Kawasaki Frontale away in Round 4 to stay in control of their fate. Even if they manage to beat Hong Kong’s Eastern SC in Round 5, failure to win in Japan would force a must-win situation against Suwon in their final group match back home.
Securing three points in Kawasaki would mean they could wrap up qualification early with a routine win in Round 5. However, apart from their 7–0 thrashing of Eastern, Evergrande’s performances in the other five matches have been far from convincing. What’s worse, the critical tie with Kawasaki is sandwiched between tough CSL fixtures: the Guangzhou Derby against R&F before their trip to Japan, and an away game against Tianjin Teda shortly after.
The congested schedule has stretched Evergrande to the limit, and the upcoming international break won’t bring relief. Key players like Paulinho and seven Chinese internationals will be off for national duty, making squad rotation nearly impossible. For head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, it’s a logistical nightmare—he’ll have to manage fatigue, injuries, and tactical adjustments all at once.
As Suning and SIPG inch closer to a historic early qualification, more records are up for grabs for the Chinese “BIG3.” If Evergrande can overcome Kawasaki away, Chinese football could witness an unprecedented feat—three CSL teams advancing to the knockout stage together.
Much like the ever-evolving Live Cricket BPL, where strategy, momentum, and depth are key to staying on top, Chinese football faces its own pressure-cooker environment. For Scolari, making timely rotations and breaking his stubborn patterns may be the only way to keep Evergrande’s hopes alive.