2024 season's Chinese Super League came to an end in a magnificent fashion. Whether it was the title race or the battle for survival, the suspense remained until the final moments.

Shanghai Seaport's championship victory holds great significance, as they not only successfully defended their title but also broke the record for the highest points, most goals scored, and highest goal difference in the history of the Chinese Super League. They also achieved a milestone by winning 14 consecutive matches in a single season.

01. Record-breaking champions: Shanghai Seaport

a. The beauty of attacking football

After winning the Chinese Super League title last season, Shanghai Seaport made a bold move by changing their head coach. Despite taking charge of a defending champion team, Muscat was a year older than his predecessor.

Who would have thought that Shanghai Seaport, who played without a striker last season and had to rely on defensive resilience in some matches, would transform into a team that prioritized attacking football?

The start of the season was challenging for Shanghai Seaport due to injuries to their new foreign players. They were held to draws by Zhejiang and Beijing Guoan in the first four rounds. It is worth noting that out of the 30 league matches Shanghai Seaport played, they only failed to win three points in five of them, with 40% of those occurring in the first four rounds.

Their full-strength foreign contingent made an appearance when they faced Shandong Taishan at home. Despite trailing 1-3 at one point, they completed a remarkable 4-3 comeback, kick-starting a red wave of attacking prowess.

The third goal scored by Shanghai Seaport in their comeback against Shandong Taishan can be considered a tactical summary of their entire season. Fullback Li Shuai controlled the point of the free-kick delivery, drawing a foul from the opponent. A quick free-kick was taken, and Balguzzi received the ball on the wing, passed it to the overlapping Li Shuai, who then assisted Wu Lei's goal in the center.

Shanghai Seaport's four key attacking points this season - controlling the delivery point of the free-kick, launching a second attack immediately, distributing the ball under pressure from the defense, overlapping runs from fullbacks, and Wu Lei's central positioning - were all demonstrated in this goal.

In addition to this goal, Shanghai Seaport's goals in that match were significantly influenced by set-pieces. Not only the first wave but also a significant number of secondary attacks were initiated from set-pieces. The central defenders did not return to their own penalty area after a cleared ball, leading to a backward pass and another attack. Striker Gustavo, midfielder Chitadini, and Wu Lei all posed a significant threat during set-piece attacks.

b. A highly prestigious championship: Shanghai Seaport breaks numerous records

It is worth mentioning that Shanghai Seaport broke a series of records during their journey to defend the Chinese Super League title. The team's previous highest point total was 68 points when they won the title in 2018. However, they achieved 69 points in just 26 rounds of matches this season.

After breaking their own record, Shanghai Seaport continued their dominance and ultimately set a new record by winning the championship with 78 points in 30 league matches, surpassing Guangzhou Evergrande's previous record of 77 points achieved in 2013.

Furthermore, Shanghai Seaport scored a total of 96 goals throughout the season, significantly surpassing the single-season Chinese Super League goal-scoring record and also exceeding Guangzhou Evergrande's record for goal difference, making their championship victory even more convincing.

Another noteworthy contribution came from Wu Lei. With his presence, Shanghai Seaport became the most beautiful and unique team in the Chinese Super League.

02. Shanghai Shenhua's runner-up finish & Chengdu's third place: Teams on the rise

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

Shanghai Shenhua had a promising start to the season, but injuries to their foreign players led to inconsistent performances as the season progressed. However, their squad depth proved to be their biggest advantage. Under a new coach, the team's defensive resilience from the previous season was maintained, and their attacking efficiency greatly improved.

In particular, the contribution of foreign player Louis revitalized Teixeira, which allowed Shanghai Shenhua to remain in contention for the title until the end. The team not only demonstrated an ability to come from behind and secure victories but also benefited from Teixeira's spectacular long-range goals, which boosted their morale.

In addition to the excellent foreign players, the local veterans of Shanghai Shenhua also deserve admiration. Han Chao, who consistently scored key goals as a substitute, and Wu Xi, whose goals were often decisive, proved to be valuable assets to the team. Eddie, in the defense, is an underrated player who impresses with his positioning, defensive awareness when playing as a central defender, as well as his stability in overlapping runs and accurate passing as a fullback.

b. Chengdu's third-place achievement: Their fate depends on the Chinese FA Cup final

Another team that showed significant progress this season is Chengdu. They achieved a remarkable third-place finish in the league, showcasing a well-balanced attacking and defensive system. Especially in their home victory over Shanghai Seaport, where they won 3-1, striker Felipe did not even start, yet the team performed at a high level.

Although Chengdu faced scoring efficiency issues throughout the long season, their points total this season is still commendable when compared to previous seasons. The only uncertainty lies in the outcome of the Chinese FA Cup final between Shanghai Seaport and Shandong Taishan. If Shanghai Seaport wins, Chengdu will participate in the next season's AFC Champions League, alleviating financial pressure and providing them with an opportunity to further elevate their status.

03. Fierce competition in the relegation battle: The results may not be final

a. The battle for survival: It's all about individual effort

In the final round of the Chinese Super League, apart from Nantong Zhiyun, who had already been relegated with 22 points after 29 rounds, Cangzhou and Meizhou, both with 29 and 27 points respectively, and Hainiu and Shenzhen Xinpengcheng, both with 26 points (as of the 29th round), had the possibility of relegation.

In particular, the match between Qingdao Hainiu and Cangzhou Xiong Lion, played at Hainiu's home stadium, attracted the attention of many fans. Over the past two seasons, the title race went down to the wire, but such a large-scale relegation battle took the closing round to a whole new level of excitement.

In the end, Shenzhen Xinpengcheng managed to escape relegation, while Meizhou Hakka and Nantong Zhiyun unfortunately fell into the relegation zone. It should be noted that on the journey to avoid relegation, everything depends on individual effort. Shenzhen Xinpengcheng's draw against Shanghai Shenhua in their away match not only became a key factor in their own survival but also had an impact on the final championship outcome.

No team can stay in the Chinese Super League easily, as each team strives for their own future by playing at a high level. This is the reason why our own league can attract more fans.

b. Finalizing the relegation results: There may still be variables

Although the names of the teams that fell into the relegation zone have been confirmed, there may still be variables in determining who will ultimately face relegation. On the one hand, all Chinese Super League teams face financial pressure, making it uncertain if any team would go bankrupt and withdraw from the league.

On the other hand, clubs involved in the previously heavily sanctioned match-fixing scandal might face relegation as a punishment. If the investors are willing to stay in the Chinese Super League, even if they are in the relegation zone, there is still a possibility of making a comeback.

As the Chinese Super League season comes to an end, we can look forward to the new season with greater anticipation. Can Shanghai Seaport, one year older, maintain their hold on the top spot? Will Shanghai Shenhua, with their strong squad depth, continue their upward trajectory? Chengdu Rongcheng, Beijing Guoan, and Shandong Taishan all possess the ability to challenge for the title. What roles will they play in the upcoming season?

In conclusion, we as football fans always have a special affection for our own league. The thrilling ups and downs attract more attention and love. The Chinese Super League is slowly regaining its appeal, and its competitiveness can also be seen in the AFC Champions League. Is Chinese football experiencing a revival? At least the impressive performance of the U16 national team gives us more confidence.

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