September 9: The relegation battle has become chaotic! Wuhan Three Towns' postponed matches are a great chance to turn things around_Henan Team_Relegation Battle_League

Wuhan Three Towns, currently third from bottom in the standings, still hold the advantage of two postponed matches, but the chasing teams behind them have already grown to three sides.

After the conclusion of the 26th round of the Chinese Super League, the entire relegation zone has become extremely chaotic. Bottom-ranked Qingdao Hainiu have 14 points and have almost secured one relegation spot. The remaining spots are fiercely contested. Wuhan Three Towns have 20 points from 24 matches, Tianjin Jinmen Tiger have 22 points from one more match, Liaoning Iron Man have 25 points from 25 matches, and Henan Team have 26 points from 25 matches. In the past, the lower half of the table was always tightly packed, and one result could completely change the rankings.

At the Wuhan Sports Center stands, fans' crumpled tickets can often be seen scattered after matches in recent rounds. As the wind blows, they look like scoreboards glowing with cold light. Even the coaching staff on the substitutes' bench appear more tense than the players on the pitch. Nobody dares to make a careless move, as everyone is calculating whether the extra two postponed matches will become a lifeline or the final burden.

Previously, many believed the relegation fight was only between Three Towns and Jinmen Tiger. However, Henan and Liaoning Iron Man have recently fallen into poor form and dragged themselves into the battle. Liaoning Iron Man have taken only three points from their last five matches, while Henan Team have suffered more severely, losing three of four games and drawing one, sliding from mid-table directly toward danger. The relegation race is no longer a one-on-one fight; it is four teams trying to cross the same bridge, with everyone wanting to get across first and push others down.

Are playing two fewer matches an advantage or a disadvantage?

The advantage is that they have the possibility of gaining six more points. If they win both matches, they could jump from third-bottom into the middle of the table and leave their rivals far behind. But the disadvantage is equally clear: none of the postponed-match opponents are easy. If they lose both, the matches in hand become a debt, and while other teams may not need to wait until the final round, Three Towns could face relegation confirmation early. It is like holding two unscratched lottery tickets: they could bring survival, or they could leave no room for recovery.

What is even more difficult is the imbalance in the schedule. Other teams have played 25 matches while Three Towns have played only 24, meaning the standings continue to fluctuate for them after each league round. If Henan win this week, Three Towns' pressure increases; if Jinmen Tiger draw next week, Three Towns' room becomes tighter. Other teams' completed matches are fixed numbers, but Three Towns' points remain suspended until their games are played, making the final ranking impossible to predict.

The hardest part of a relegation battle is not losing, but waiting. Waiting for other teams' results, waiting for the postponed match schedule, and waiting to see whether those 90 minutes on the pitch can bring three points. During this period, Three Towns players have continued extra training after sessions until the stadium lights go out. Sweat drops on the artificial track and disappears quickly in the wind. Nobody dares to say they are safe, and nobody can relax. After the previous league match, the captain sat silently in the dressing room for half an hour, squeezing his sports drink bottle out of shape. His only thought was that the postponed matches were in their own hands and could not be given away.

Some previously said Three Towns were lucky because two postponed matches were like having two extra lives. But those who understand the situation know that postponed matches are not free gifts; they are a blade hanging overhead. During a crowded schedule with two or even three matches in a week, how much can the players' fitness handle? Is the squad depth enough for two difficult battles? These remain unknown. If they exhaust their energy for the postponed games and then struggle in the regular league matches, they may lose more than they gain.

The mentality across the relegation zone is now close to breaking. At Henan Team's post-match press conference, the coach's voice was hoarse as he said every match was a battle for survival. On Jinmen Tiger fan forums, supporters have already calculated the final rounds' matchups, including whether opponents have Asian competition commitments or may rotate players. Liaoning Iron Man are even more under pressure, with two consecutive defeats leaving fans extremely anxious. In such chaos, the first team to panic will be the first to lose.

What Three Towns should do now is not focus on calculating others' scores, but treat every minute they have as part of a relegation battle. It does not matter how strong their postponed-match opponents are; there is no easy mode in a relegation fight. Every point must be earned through effort, through fighting, and through all eleven players giving everything for 90 minutes. Relying on others to make mistakes is the fastest way to fail—many teams in past CSL relegation battles waited for others to collapse and eventually waited themselves out of the league.

The closer the league gets to the end, the more the battle is about mentality rather than ability. Qingdao Hainiu have already fallen away, and among the remaining spots, whoever can hold on will stay while whoever relaxes will leave. The two postponed matches in Three Towns' hands are both chips and bombs: used well, they can secure survival; used poorly, they can hurt themselves.

Do you think Wuhan Three Towns can escape the relegation battle through these two postponed matches, or will they waste all the advantage they currently hold? Share your thoughts in the comments.