September 6 CSL Battle for Eighth: Chongqing Tongliang Long Host Shanghai Shenhua as Liu Chengyu Travels with Team

Liu Jianye made a firm statement: "If one day I feel that my position is affecting the team's development, I am willing to step aside." The head coach's words showed the pressure surrounding the team.

At 7 p.m. on September 6, Chongqing Tongliang Long will host Shanghai Shenhua at Chongqing Longxing Football Stadium in CSL Round 26.

The two teams are close in the standings, with Chongqing on 31 points in eighth and Shenhua on 28 points in ninth. Their first meeting ended 2-2, making this match important for the battle for eighth place.

Both teams entered the match with concerns after being eliminated from the FA Cup quarterfinals away from home by 0-1 scores on the same day.

Shenhua lost to Dalian Yingbo and Chongqing lost to Yunnan Yukun. Both coaches face pressure returning to league action.

After 25 league rounds, Chongqing have conceded only 29 goals, among the fewest in the CSL, showing strong defense.

However, they have scored only 26 goals. Since beating Tianjin Jinmen Tiger 1-0 at home in late June, the promoted side has struggled for wins.

They have gone more than two months without a league victory, recording four draws and five defeats in nine matches and seven winless games across competitions.

Liu Jianye has relied on a five-defender 5-4-1 system. It worked early in the season but has been studied by opponents.

Opponents have disrupted midfield passing and pressed the defensive line, limiting Chongqing's counterattacks. Since July, their average goals have fallen from 1.71 to 1 per game.

The biggest casualty of this conservative approach is 22-year-old captain Xiang Yuwang.

Against Yunnan Yukun in the FA Cup, Xiang came on as a substitute in the 53rd minute.

U23 national team coach Antonio watched the match to scout young players. In the 73rd minute, Xiang lost possession after controlling the ball and the opponent scored the only goal after a counterattack.

Five minutes later, Liu Jianye replaced Xiang with Du Yuezhen after only 25 minutes on the pitch.

Xiang recorded one inaccurate shot, four turnovers and a 6.3 rating. In the 2026 CSL season, he has made 23 appearances, 16 starts and played over 1,400 minutes, scoring only three goals including one penalty and providing no assists.

He has lost possession 133 times and completed only eight of 30 dribble attempts.

Xiang was the Chinese top scorer in the 2024 and 2025 China League seasons, scoring 15 and 18 goals respectively. His efficiency has dropped significantly in the CSL.

The main issue is tactical mismatch. The 1.77-meter right-footed striker relies on positioning and finishing near the goal.

To fit the 5-4-1 system, he has been moved wide and asked to act as a focal point against packed defenses, increasing the risk of mistakes.

Liu Jianye said the substitution was purely tactical, requiring two front-line focal points, and added that he did not know Antonio was present.

While Chongqing's coach faces pressure, Shenhua coach Milosjevic is also struggling. Since taking charge, he has recorded one win and three defeats in four matches.

When he led the team to Chongqing on September 4, the squad had already been affected by several problems.

Shenhua's problems began in the FA Cup. Brazilian foreign player Mineiro was sent off after coming on for only 20 minutes against Dalian Yingbo.

Shenhua were left with ten men and were eventually eliminated.

The FA imposed an additional punishment, suspending Mineiro for three matches and fining him 15,000 yuan. The suspension will be served in the CSL.

Mineiro will miss the upcoming matches against Chongqing, Yunnan Yukun and Wuhan Three Towns. He was previously a key second-half attacking option.

That important substitute option is now unavailable.

Only Asue, Ratan, Manafa and Teixeira remain among Shenhua's foreign players, while the left side also faces problems.

On August 28 against Shandong Taishan, Shenhua's 2-1 lead turned into a defeat. More importantly, starting left-back Chen Jinyi suffered an injury.

The examination showed a partial tear of the right anterior talofibular ligament with a minor strain, requiring four to six weeks of recovery.

Chen had started every match in the first 25 rounds, and Shenhua may rely on Yang Zexiang to fill the gap.

However, Yang lacks recent playing time, with only 22 minutes in the last three matches, making his readiness uncertain.

How Shenhua arrange their lineup will be a major test for Milosjevic.

The positive news is that Liu Chengyu has basically recovered and traveled with the team. Long-term injury issues caused him to miss this year's Asian Games squad.

His return helps a weakened attack, but reporters noted he is a different type of striker from Mineiro and cannot immediately replace the foreign player's role.

The September 6 match is expected to be a fierce contest.

Milosjevic must find a way to break through the league's strongest defense using his available foreign players and Liu Chengyu, while Liu Jianye must decide whether to continue relying on the familiar 5-4-1 approach.

Whether former China League Golden Boot winner Xiang Yuwang can return to a position closer to goal and better suited to his strengths will be a key question.

There are no sympathy points in competition. The team that adjusts first may gain the advantage in the battle for eighth place.