The Shanghai Derby precisely struck at Shenhua, with Haigang reclaiming the championship suspense!

Reporter Cheng Shan reports On the night of the 9th, with the entire team's resolute implementation of Muscat's tactics, Shanghai Haigang ultimately achieved a precise strike against Shenhua at the 80,000-seat stadium. The 2-1 score not only allowed Haigang to overcome their recent derby struggles but also reignited the championship suspense in the league.

Since Slutsky took over, Shenhua has transformed from a passive side in the Shanghai Derby, especially compared to a year ago in August when Haigang, leading Shenhua by 5 points at the top of the league table, suffered a heavy blow at home, losing 1-3. This left Haigang with only a 2-point lead, extending the championship suspense until the end.

Fast forward to August 2025, on another hot night in Shanghai, Haigang is the pursuer. After being eliminated by Haigang in the FA Cup in June, their 5 wins and 1 draw in the league have narrowed the points gap with Shenhua to 4. Although Muscat stated, "This is just an ordinary match, and we must stick to our own style of play," winning is the only goal.

August 7th is Muscat's birthday, and his players naturally know that his most desired gift is victory in this "derby" match. However, Muscat unexpectedly gave the team a day off on Wednesday, making it clear that he wanted everyone to relax. "This is the fourth meeting this year; in terms of team cohesion and personnel configuration, Haigang should be in the best state now. I hope we can put on a good show in this derby." Before the match, some Haigang fans seemed to express a more objective view on the outcome of the encounter between the two teams than before.

The match attracted 60,031 spectators, marking the first time the Shanghai Derby drew over 60,000 attendees, breaking the attendance record for Shenhua's home games in the history of the Chinese Super League. The data also proves that in this city, the "Shanghai Derby" remains a top-tier event in the CSL.

Muscat clearly told his players in the pre-match preparation meeting that even though they were at the opponent's home ground, he did not want anyone to be timid. Instead, they should play aggressively and seize the initiative, stating, "We will focus on being aggressive!" He showed no hesitation in his starting lineup, deploying five foreign players: Yusa, Gabriel, Vital, Leonardo, and Melendo. Muscat seized upon Shenhua's physical issues following their previous grueling match against Yunnan, skillfully implementing an attacking style of football.

It was precisely the relentless offensive from the start that caught Shenhua off guard. In the 27th minute, Shanghai Haigang executed a beautiful combination play in the center, with Gabriel unleashing a powerful shot into the corner, breaking the deadlock at Shenhua's home ground. Taking the lead away from home boosted Haigang's morale, while Shenhua clearly did not want to face this situation and began a frantic counterattack. According to Muscat's objective, he hoped to secure more goals in the first half, especially since Haigang had a 70% rate of conceding goals in the second half of derby matches over the past three years, with four goals conceded after the 80th minute. Soon, they found themselves leading 2-0, as in the 46th minute, Li Shuai crossed from the left, and Leonardo made a brilliant run to knock the ball in at the near post.

In fact, in the locker room at halftime, Muscat, having thoroughly analyzed Shenhua, had already anticipated their subsequent changes. "We know the characteristics of our opponent; they emphasize physical play and control of one-two passes, rather than breaking through with intricate passing combinations. Their approach in the second half will be more direct." Muscat specifically reminded his players, "Be sure to pay attention to the last 20 minutes, particularly to the opponent's long passes and crosses."

This time, Haigang did not give Shenhua too many chances. Faced with the urgency to turn the game around, Shenhua began to frequently attempt long-range shots, but national goalkeeper Yan Junling stepped up. The veteran's performance in the second half was nothing short of textbook: in the 56th minute, he saved a threatening low shot from Andre; in the 63rd minute, he made a remarkable reaction save against Andre's header; and in the 83rd minute, he blocked a long-range shot from Teixeira aimed at the corner...

Although Shanghai Shenhua pulled one back through Chen Jin, three clear scoring opportunities were denied by Yan Junling. After the match, the coaching staff approached him to express their congratulations.

Securing three points at the 80,000-seat stadium was significant for Haigang. Not only did they win the derby, but they also closed the gap with the top of the table, intensifying the championship suspense this season. More importantly, after the departures of stars like Oscar Barghas, Muscat demonstrated through action that Haigang still has the capability to compete with Shenhua, proving that the Shanghai Derby remains the most critical battle in the CSL.

After the match, Muscat was also asked a broad question about the "impact of the Shanghai Derby." With high emotional intelligence, he responded, "The effects of the match are evident; two very excellent teams played a game. The league is continuously improving, and the overall image and hosting standards are on the rise. Besides the Shanghai Derby, the previous match between Chengdu and Dalian was also a great promotion for the league, demonstrating that we can showcase our professional league to the world through hard work. Chinese football should take pride in this and prove to the world that it is full of vitality."