The East Stand | Chinese Super League: did Guangzhou Evergrande and Shanghai SIPG’s ‘battle of the arrivistes’ determine title shake-up?

There was no argument over what was the biggest game of the Chinese Super League this weekend. While the “China Derby” between Beijing Guoan and Shanghai Shenhua saw the established teams in the country’s two most important cities play out at Hongkou Stadium on Friday, all eyes were on Saturday’s game between Guangzhou Evergrande and Shanghai SIPG. The rivalry between Guoan and Shenhua might be long-standing but this battle of the arrivistes was the one highlighted when the fixture list came out. It was expected to have a bigger bearing on the title run-in and involve two teams still involved. It was and it did. Fans of Guoan and Shenhua point to their heritage and the fact that they have stayed in the same place, retaining their names but for the addition of sponsors over the years. That’s a rarity in the world of Chinese football, but history only gets you so far. Times have changed along with the names for the clubs known as Guangzhou Pharmaceutical and Shanghai East Asia. Champions Shanghai SIPG travelled to title favourites Guangzhou Evergrande for a game billed as a title decider. While Beijing Guoan fans might not see it that way with two matches left to play, those in the capital were watching the goings on in Guangzhou with as much interest as in their own team’s 2-1 win over Shenhua on Friday night. Those three points had sent the Beijing side back to the top of the table, a position they occupied for the first 10 weeks of the season, but it was always going to be difficult to stay there. A first title in a decade would be welcomed in Beijing, whereas in Shanghai and Guangzhou they expect it A first title in a decade would be welcomed in Beijing, whereas in Shanghai and Guangzhou they expect it. The truth is that neither side wanted to be there on Saturday night. When they were looking at the 2019 calendar, Sunday’s AFC Champions League final was the date circled in red. Twice-winners Evergrande went closer to reaching their third final, losing in the semis to Japan’s Urawa Reds. SIPG lost to the same opposition in the previous round. But here they both were and there were plenty on hand to watch them. The streets around Tianhe Stadium were packed as kick-off approached. Crowds here are usually the strongest numbers in the league. This is in part because the team are invariably at the top of the table and winning is almost guaranteed. The club might not be the oldest in the CSL, but they are the most storied, having won seven of the last eight league titles. Saturday’s visitors stopped the sweep with their first title last season. Despite a rough start to the season, it’s business as usual in Guangzhou and they knew that a win would strengthen their case for the crown. A first title in a decade would be welcomed in Beijing, whereas in Shanghai and Guangzhou they expect it The other reason is that rules seem more relaxed in the south, and a fence and a few rows of seats are deemed sufficient barriers to fans mixing, compared with the whole stands given for often a handful of fans further north. It being 28 degrees Celsius with the sun down was only going to fray tempers. Shanghai SIPG’s contingent of travelling fans were in fine voice from before kick-off, having been packed in to their section well before. The home fans in section 17 next to them roused themselves a little for the national anthem, with many singing along. China’s new striker Elkeson was not among those doing so on the pitch, nor was he on the bench to face his former team. The game set out its stall early. Hungarian referee Victor Kassai was going to be busy. The number of fouls kept the free-flowing football to a minimum, which was exacerbated by some nervous-looking footballers. Misplaced passes, overhit crosses, and some enthusiastic tackling. Guangzhou’s Anderson Talisca was on the receiving end of the worst. After riding a challenge the ball went out of play for a home throw but he was slide tackled as he left the pitch to get the ball. This cleared the benches for a bit of pushing and shoving. It also had the ref reaching for his notebook. It would not be the last time. Chinese Super League naturalised footballer limit would not help Marcello Lippi’s task of Qatar 2022 World Cup qualification It also ramped up the temperature in the stand between the home and away fans with the former turning to Mandarin to explain their feelings on the intelligence of those who had travelled and the players they were cheering on. The locals later preferred Cantonese to tell visiting captain Hulk about his parentage. There was even the odd insult in English, but no one turned to Shanghainese to goad the away fans, perhaps supporting the idea that those from the city support Shenhua while the newly arrived migrants support the newer team. Some football occasionally broke out, and when it did it was inevitably Paulinho and Talisca at the heart of it. Guangzhou’s Brazilian pair are among the best players in the league and fully showed why Evergrande were willing to start the season with a policy of playing just two foreigners. They had the ball in the net four times between them but the tension continued until the last. Two “goals” were ruled out by VAR and Talisca’s 90th-minute penalty appeal was initially waved away. That was then overturned on VAR, making the game safe at 2-0 when he scored from the spot. While the away fans had a long journey back to Shanghai, the title might be returning home to Guangzhou.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}The East Stand | Chinese Super League: did Guangzhou Evergrande and Shanghai SIPG’s ‘battle of the arrivistes’ determine title shake-up?

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} First and second-placed teams went head-to-head on Saturday with direction of the CSL title at stake Just four points separate the top three teams with two games to go

The East Stand | Chinese Super League: did Guangzhou Evergrande and Shanghai SIPG’s ‘battle of the arrivistes’ determine title shake-up?

First and second-placed teams went head-to-head on Saturday with direction of the CSL title at stake

Just four points separate the top three teams with two games to go