The Chinese Super League title race is heating up intensely; will the "devil's schedule" in September decide the fate?

Written by Han Bing Shanghai Port lost 1-4 on the road to Chengdu Rongcheng, Shanghai Shenhua lost 0-1 away to Wuhan Three Towns, and Beijing Guoan was beaten 0-6 away by Shandong Taishan. In the 23rd round of the Chinese Super League, three of the four main title contenders were defeated! Although they still remain in the top group on the points table, on one hand, chasing Shandong Taishan has closed the gap to within 10 points; on the other hand, after the September break, all four teams will face the severe challenge of competing on two fronts with a grueling schedule. Judging by the current form of these four teams, Shanghai’s two clubs and Guoan are showing signs of fatigue and may struggle to maintain momentum. Whether the AFC Champions League newcomer Chengdu Rongcheng can keep up their league assault after entering the main tournament is also uncertain. The 2025 CSL title battle could very well be a tight contest among these four teams until the end, making the September matches crucial.

During the September international break, the CSL’s top four title contenders get a rare chance to rest, but with two AFC Champions League competitions underway, this short pause is likely just a brief calm before the storm. With seven league rounds remaining and all four title hopefuls involved in AFC matches, the five games before the October international break could drastically alter the CSL title race. If any of the top four falter during September’s punishing schedule, they risk being completely left behind and losing their chance.

September is dubbed the "devil’s schedule" not only because the two AFC Champions League tournaments force the title contenders into playing two matches per week, but also because on September 21, in round 25 of the CSL, the top four will face direct confrontations. Shanghai Shenhua will host Chengdu Rongcheng, while Beijing Guoan hosts Shanghai Port. These two critical title clashes are worth six points each, and any team losing in these matches will almost certainly fall behind in the race.

Originally, on August 30, Chengdu Rongcheng defeated Shanghai Port 4-1 at home, taking a 2-point lead and temporarily gaining the upper hand in the title chase. The September schedule begins with Chengdu hosting Changchun Yatai, the weakest of the title contenders’ opponents in that round, making a full 3 points likely for Rongcheng. However, before the peak showdown between Shanghai Shenhua and Chengdu Rongcheng on September 21, both teams face tough away matches in the AFC Champions League Elite Tournament against Korean clubs. On September 16, Shanghai Shenhua visits Gangwon FC, and on September 17, Chengdu Rongcheng plays away at Ulsan Hyundai. Chengdu faces a stronger opponent and plays one day later, putting them at a clear physical disadvantage.

Including the September 26 match against Zhejiang, Chengdu Rongcheng will play three consecutive away games, and if two of those require travel back and forth to Chengdu, their fatigue will be even more pronounced. Additionally, Chengdu faces suspensions and injury troubles: Delgado will miss all three September CSL matches due to suspension, and foreign striker Carlon has been injured and is unreliable. Fortunately, key fullback Hu Hetao has returned after a two-and-a-half-month injury layoff, but having been urgently called up to the U22 national team, his condition in September remains uncertain.

Shanghai Shenhua’s schedule is relatively favorable. From September 12 to October 1, out of five matches, four are at home, with only the AFC Elite match against Gangwon FC being away, giving them a clear home and physical advantage. However, Shenhua suffers from serious injuries. Brazilian striker Mineiro, who scored 8 goals and provided 6 assists in 14 CSL matches, is out for the season. Xie Pengfei underwent bone spur surgery and, like Dai Weijun, is still recovering, though both are expected to return mid-September with uncertain form. Moreover, Andre, Wu Xi, and Li Ke are also dealing with injuries. New summer signing Assou will participate in the Equatorial Guinea World Cup qualifiers, and with long connecting flights, his condition for the crucial home match against Shandong Taishan on September 12 is also questionable.

Beijing Guoan and Shanghai Port each have three home games and two away games in September. Guoan’s advantage lies not only in facing weaker opponents in the two AFC competitions but also in hosting the crucial title clash against Shanghai Port, giving them a strong chance to emulate Chengdu Rongcheng by beating Port twice and firmly distancing them from the title race. Besides the clearly weaker AFC opponents compared to Shanghai Port’s, Guoan’s CSL opponents Henan and Dalian Yifang are roughly equal in strength to Port’s opponents Yunnan Yukun and Wuhan Three Towns. However, Guoan’s foreign defender Spajic suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear in his right knee and will miss the September schedule, just like goalkeeper Han Jiaqi who had a similar injury in April. Furthermore, several other players have minor injuries, affecting the team’s condition for September.

Shanghai Port’s 1-4 away defeat to Chengdu Rongcheng means they have lost the initiative in the title sprint. Their schedule is also unfavorable; although they host Yunnan Yukun and Wuhan Three Towns in September, the critical title match against Beijing Guoan is away. Before this season, Port has only won once, drawn once, and lost five times in seven matches against the other three title contenders, which is not promising. Additionally, their two AFC Elite matches are against strong J-League teams Kobe Victory Ship and Hiroshima Sanfrecce. Fortunately, the first four September matches include three at home and one away, reducing travel fatigue, and players called up to the U22 national team—Wumiti Jiang, Kuai Jiwen, and Li Xinxiang—will return, potentially strengthening the squad.

The September "devil’s schedule" is a decisive phase in the CSL title race for the top four contenders. How they balance the CSL and AFC Champions League commitments, and whether they can seize opportunities in direct confrontations with rivals, will ultimately determine the championship outcome.