A Remarkable Scenario in Chinese Football: Guangdong Teams Could Experience Two Promotions and Two Relegations

A remarkable situation has emerged in the history of Chinese football. By simply looking at the standings after this round of China League One matches, it can be seen that Guangdong GZ Leopard and Shenzhen Youth have promising promotion prospects, while Meizhou Hakka, who sit second from bottom, and Foshan Nanshi are gradually being separated from the teams ahead of them. This means Guangdong football could achieve the rare situation of “two promotions and two relegations” in China League One, and it is highly possible that no Guangdong teams will remain in China League One next year. We can analyze this phenomenon from the following aspects.

First, Guangdong GZ Leopard have performed impressively. They have currently accumulated 50 points, leading third place by 14 points, and have basically secured a promotion spot. If everything goes smoothly, the Chinese Super League could welcome its first Guangzhou team in five years next season. At the same time, with the completion of the 73,000-seat professional football stadium, Guangdong GZ Leopard could have one of the largest home venues in the Chinese Super League, carrying hopes of reviving Guangzhou football.

Second, Shenzhen Youth have also been in excellent form. After defeating Meizhou Hakka 5-1 in this round, the team has recorded three consecutive wins and remained unbeaten for six rounds, winning five of those six matches. They currently lead the teams behind them by six points. Under the guidance of Almazan, head coach of the U16 national youth team, Shenzhen Youth have become a strong promotion contender. It is worth noting that they performed poorly in China League One last year, eventually avoiding relegation by finishing third from bottom, but next year they could face Shenzhen Peng City in a fierce city derby in the Chinese Super League, representing rapid progress.

Finally, the situation of Meizhou Hakka is the most regrettable. In their last four matches, they have lost three, including two heavy 1-5 defeats to opponents. They are currently nine points behind Nanjing City, who sit third from bottom. Having only just participated in the Chinese Super League this season, Meizhou Hakka now have to be fully prepared for the relegation battle, with the situation seemingly putting a former Chinese Super League strong team in danger of suffering two consecutive relegations.

Looking back at the entire China League One season, Guangdong and Jiangsu originally each had four teams participating, making them the provinces with the most China League One teams. However, as this season has progressed, Guangdong teams could potentially completely disappear from China League One next year. This change undoubtedly represents a major spectacle in Chinese football.