Super League Round GW1 Full Recap
Posted on 09-03-2026 by FCInsider - written by Hans Dekker
Friday evening saw Guizhou Hengfeng Zhicheng take on Liaoning FC in the Guiyang Olympic Sports Centre to open the historic 2017 CSL season.
The newly promoted side managed to play out a draw against last seasons 11th place finishers, with Jelavic and Chamanga providing for the goals by both converting a penalty kick.
The new policies in effect had many whondering just how the CSL sides would adapt at such short notice and the first round saw several traditional powerhouses struggle when encountering a new set of circumstances.
GUANGZHOU EVERGRANDE 2-1 BEIJING GUOAN
19′ Paulinho 1-0
38′ B. Yilmaz 1-1
87′ Paulinho 2-1
Champions come out on top for hard-fought victory
Guangzhou Evergrande started the season with a hardfought win over last seasons 5th place finishers Beijing Guoan. After their impressive performance in the Champions League all eyes were definitely on Guangzhou to impress, but the reigning champions struggled against last seasons best defense of the league.
In a game that was marked by hard play (11 yellow cards, 2 sendings offs, and 1 spot kick), the guests from Beijing put up a real fight. In the end Guangzhou came out on top thanks to Brazilian midfield star Paulinho, who found the net twice. Newly signed Beijing Guoan striker Jonathan Soriano had not been selected yet by coach Gonzalez.
SHANGHAI SHENHUA 4-0 JIANGSU SUNING
17′ G. Moreno 1-0
36′ C. Tevez (P) 2-0
79′ Mao Jianqing 3-0
86′ G. Moreno 4-0
Tevez opens Super League account, Alex Teixeira loses his cool
Carlos Tevez immediatly stepped up for Shanghai Shenhua in his official Super League debut, in what was anticipated to be a close match between two candidates for a top 3 finish. In reality the hosts shocked last seasons 2nd place finishers Jiangsu Suning and strolled to a 4-0 victory.
The supposed best payed football player in the world opened his Super League account from the spot in the first half, and supplied the assist for Moreno’s second goal. Jiangsu Suning will have a hard time finding any positive in this match, as striker Roger Martinez had to leave the pitch injured (3 weeks out), and superstar Alex Teixeira got sent off for hitting his opponent and will miss the next 3 games.
GUIZHOU HENGFENG ZHICHENG 1 - 1 LIAONING WHOWIN
14′ J. Chamanga (P) 0-1
25′ N. Jelavic (P) 1-1
Opening game behind closed doors
When Guizhou Hengfeng ensured promotion to the highest tier of professional football in China at the absolute end of last season, the fans were so ecstatic with joy they stormed the field. Because of this the CFA ruled that their next home game should be played behind closed doors. Unfortunately this meant that this seasons opening game no fans would be allowed into the stadium.
Western media jumped all over the pictures of the empty stadium, and with headlines along the lines of ‘all that money, but no fans for Chinese football’ they did not exactly show their best side.
Other notable moment in the game came when Guizhou boss Li Bing decided to take off U23 player Wang Qiao after 17 minutes into the first half, in order to circumvent the new CFA rules. These rule state, amongst other things, all teams should have at least one U23 player lined up in their starting 11.
Unfortunately for Li Bing this decision backfired, as later on in the game goalie Shi Xiaotian got sent off and a fieldplayer had to take his place between the sticks.
GUANGZHOU R&F 2-0 TIANJIN QUANJIN
29′ Xiao Zhi 1-0
61′ Renatinho 2-0
Newcomers not capturing any hearts just yet
One of the most anticipated matches of the opening round strangely enough featured the other newcomer to the 2017 season of the Super League. Tianjin Quanjin, led by former FIFA World Champion Fabio Cannavaro, seemed to take it upon themselves to fill every headline during the latest transfer period. Name after name was linked to the second Tianjin side, who in the end welcomed Alex Witsel, Alexandre Pato, and Junior Moraes to their team.
While being one of the most entertaining sides to watch in last years League One, Tianjin Quanjin could not capture any hearts just yet. Their biggest treath came from new frontman Alexandre Pato who clearly still needs some time to adept to his new surroundings - the Brazilian striker managed to miss 3 time while being trough on goal.
In the end Guangzhou R&F came out on top, establishing themselves as one of the most solid sides to compete for a top finish in the shadow of the big guns.
SHANDONG LUNENG 2-0 TIANJIN TEDA
78′ Lui Binbin 1-0
82′ P. Cisse 2-0
Shandong’s future looking bright, early headache for Teda boss Pacheco
Shandong Luneng will be hoping to have a better run in the Super League this time around, after battling relegation for some time last season. The side managed by experienced German coach Felix Magath seem to be amongst the biggest winner of the new CFA rulings with their juvenile selection, and with the former Fulham boss having had all summer to skulpt the team to his liking things are looking bright for the 4 time CSL champions.
Tianjin Teda could not have had a worse preparation than they did, by going on an 8-game losing streak in pre-season friendlies. With the new midfield in place with former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel and Serbian power man Nemanja Gudelj Tianjin Teda will certainly have higher expectations of themselves than this.
They did manage to hold on for quite a bit against Shandong Luneng, before eventually having to surrender in the closing end of the game. It will be interesting to see how Jaime Pacheco will handle the rotation of his squad this season with the team desperately in need of scoring ability, but handcuffed by the new CFA rules he will be forced to give up some of that up in the form of new signing Brown Ideye or Mbaye Diagne moving to the stands.
SHANGHAI SIPG 5-1 CHANGCHUN YATAI
26′ Fan Xiaodong 0-1
34′ Hulk (P) 1-1
43′ Elkeson 2-1
51′ Elkeson 3-1
59′ Elkeson 4-1
92′ Wu Lei 5-1
Elkeson, Elkeson, Elkeson
After years of Guangzhou hegemony it seems a real challenger has finally been formed in the shape of Shanghai SIPG. The team led by Andre Vilas-Boas has managed to form a fenomal front-line consisting of the Brazilian trio Oscar, Hulk, and Elkeson complemented by China’s biggest talent: Wu Lei. Besides this the Shanghai Port Group football club also seems to have what most Super League sides trying to catch up with Guangzhou Evergrande are lacking, a strong base of local players.
Already stringing together impressive results in this year’s Asian Champions League Shanghai SIPG are keeping everyone on the edge of their seats to find out where this could end. And their opponents in this years first CSL fixture were certainly not going to stop them. After their miraculous escape from relegation last year Changchun Yatai seem the number one candidate to go down at the end of this season. While being able to secure two seemingly strong options to bolster their attack by signing Odion Ighalo and Marinho, their squad just doesn’t seem to have what it take to be in the Super League.
Their defensive shortcomings enabled Elkeson to underline his candidacy for this years Super League top scorer title, by completing the first hattrick of the season within the hour.
HENAN JIANYE 0-0 HEBEI CF
No Goals
Not there yet
Hebei CF where impressively efficient during the transfer window, securing countless signings. While the signing for Juventus’ midfield star Hernanes might have stood out the most, most of their effort went into adding depth to their local player base - something in which Pellegrini has certainly succeeded.
Henan Jianye their most notable signing was Cameroon’s AFCON MVP Christian Bassogog from Danish side Aalborg. And with the return of Lavezzi on the side of the visitors many were definitely expecting some fireworks in this one, yet neither side seemed able nor willing to oblige. It seems Manuel Pellegrini just needs a bit more time to turn his side into becoming a candidate for a top finish.
CHONGQING LIFAN 0-0 YANBIAN FUNDE
No Goals
In need of change
While being one of the most surprising and entertaining sides last season in home games, Yanbian Funde in away game is certainly a different animal. They showed this in their opening match against Chongqing Lifan by not being able to get over 30% possession during 90 minutes.
Despite their big advantage in possession Chongqing Lifan did not seem able to really challenge Yanbian for the 3 points. This season will prove to be a difficult one for both sides, with Yanbian having to improve their away performance to top last years performance.
Yanbian Funde boss Tae-Ha Park managed to capture the hearts of many last season by having his side play a very attractive style of play, but in the opening round much of this was undone by his decision to substitute U23 player Jin Chengjun within 30 minutes into the first half.
Next round
10-03-2026 (Fri)
Jiangsu Suning vs Tianjin Elion
Shanghai SIPG vs Yanbian Funde
Shandong Luneng vs Guangzhou Evergrande
11-03-2026 (Sat)
Guizhou Hengfeng vs Beijing Guoan
Chongqing Lifan vs Hebei CF
Shanghai Shenhua vs Tianjin Quanjin
12-03-2026 (Sun)
Guangzhou R&F vs Changchun Yatai
Henan Jianye vs Liaoning Whowin