AFC Champions League Two Opener! Shanghai Shenhua Set to Enter Match With a Depleted Squad

On September 17, Shanghai Shenhua will play their first match in the AFC Champions League Two. Before the match has even started, many of Shenhua's key players have already been confirmed unavailable.

Several first-team regulars cannot play due to injuries. The defense has Long Ge and the attack has Gaye, both of whom were ruled out for the rest of the season earlier. In Shanghai Shenhua's home match against Shandong Taishan, Chen Jinyi suffered a partial tear of the right anterior talofibular ligament, so he will also miss this match. Li Ke is still recovering from injury and will not be able to make it in time either.

Due to national team selections, Wu Xi, Zhu Chenjie and Yang Haoyu will also be unavailable. Wu Xi and Zhu Chenjie were selected as over-age players, and without the team's first-choice central defender, Shenhua's central defensive line will be formed by Yang Shuai and Li Songyi. Whether they can withstand the opponent's attacks remains uncertain. In midfield, Wu Xi has reported to the U23 team, so Gao Tianyi's organization in midfield will be very important (he is highly likely to report to the national team after this match). Shenhua's strongest midfield players are all unavailable, leaving Teixeira to shoulder the responsibility alone.

Due to a suspension for yellow and red cards, Lattan will be unavailable. According to information found online, he received two yellow cards and a red card in the final match of the 2025-2026 AFC Champions League Elite season. Under AFC rules, this results in a one-match suspension carried over between seasons.

Another unexpected absence is Mineiro. Mineiro received a red card in the Chinese FA Cup, which would not prevent him from playing in the AFC Champions League Two. However, Mineiro chose to terminate his contract with Shenhua, sign a six-month deal with his former club, and return to Brazil's Serie B. This move also disrupted Shenhua's plans for the AFC Champions League Two campaign.

The writer believes Milojevic faces a difficult situation in the AFC Champions League Two. The team's top attacking threat is gone, and the key player who provided assists for Asue is also unavailable. The defensive barrier can only rely on Wang Haijian, while the wings lack a strong attacking option. With only three foreign players available, the question is whether they can secure one point or provide more opportunities for young players. Beijing Guoan have given more playing opportunities to young players, but Shenhua have used fewer young players on the pitch this season, making this a good chance for development. The level of the opposing club is still unknown, so they can only test themselves in the match. Besides this game, Shenhua also have a friendly match against Russian club Zenit at the end of the month. It was originally an opportunity for Slutsky to make an impact, but he unexpectedly resigned voluntarily.