Teams across China are dusting off their kits in anticipation of the launch of the China Super League 2018 season, which kicks off tomorrow. All eyes are on Guangzhou as teams attempt to stop local powerhouse Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao FC, which has won every Super League championship since 2011, from securing their eighth consecutive title this year.
Things got off to a good start for our boys in red on Monday, when they decimated Shanghai Shenhua in a 4-1 win at the traditional pre-season opener, the China Super Cup. The yearly contest, which pits the previous year’s FA Cup winners against the reigning Super League champs, does not count towards the actual standings for the coming season, but can be seen as a sign of things to come.
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Monday’s match saw the Guangzhou side establish a 2-1 lead by mid-game, before racking up two more points in the second half, including one from the penalty spot during injury time.
The strong showing comes after a relatively lackluster performance during last autumn’s AFC Champions League contest, that left some wondering about whether the team would be able to maintain the momentum of previous years in the coming season.
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Evergrande’s current coach, Italian Fabio Cannavaro, is back with the team this year for a second stint, after being unceremoniously fired after a mere seven months as team manager back in 2015. Monday’s victory marks Guangzhou’s first win since Cannavaro’s return.
Tomorrow will see Evergrande begin the defence of their championship title with a match-up against crosstown rivals Guangzhou R&F. That game will kick off at 7.35pm at Tianhe Stadium, Evergrande’s home turf.
[Image via CSL Soccer News]
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