Chinese Super League: crunch time for Fabio Cannavaro’s Guangzhou Evergrande
Reigning champions are in a good run of form
The stakes could hardly be higher for the Italian World Cup winner, as failure to steer Evergrande to an eighth successive CSL crown would put his job under severe scrutiny after only a year in charge.
With a third of the season left, Beijing Guoan lead the CSL two points clear of Shanghai SIPG and three ahead of Evergrande, who both have a game in hand.
Cannavaro’s side host the capital club on Friday knowing they could go top with victory, then travel to SIPG on Tuesday.
The title chase is too close to call but Evergrande have impetus after dragging themselves back into contention thanks largely to the July loan signings of Brazilian midfielders Paulinho, from Barcelona, and Anderson Talisca, from Benfica.
Evergrande needed a 91st-minute winner to defeat mid-table Shanghai Shenhua 2-1 in their last match and Cannavaro is pleading for home fans – so used to success, after dominating the CSL for the best part of a decade – to stay patient.
“The supporters hope to win every game 4-0 or 5-0,” said the former world player of the year, after Evergrande’s last-gasp victory.