The Chinese Super League is the name given to the highest level of domestic soccer contested in China. It is commonly abbreviated to the CSL.
The division was rebranded in 2004 after the authorities embarked upon a restructuring process. The original league consisted of just twelve teams but that has since expanded to 16 teams and there is the possibility of further growth in the next five years.
Since its inception in 2004, seven different teams have won the title and the league is incredibly competitive. The league is extremely popular and each team has a loyal fanbase who regularly attend home games.
The top two teams automatically qualify for the CAF Champions League with the side in third going into the qualification rounds for the elite tournament. The bottom two sides are relegated into the second tier, the JIA League.
The league typically begins in late February and concludes in November. Each team will play one another twice during the regular season, home and away. Each team plays 30 games in total throughout the campaign. The league will sometimes take a break if there is an international tournament being held in the summer.
The CSL has attracted a number of high profile players over the last few years with top class European players making the move to Asia. Recent arrivals include Oscar, Hulk, Carlos Tevez and John Obi Mikel. These have helped raise the profile of the division.
Guangzhou Evergrande are the most successful side in the division with seven titles. They won the division in successive years between 2011 and 2017. Shandong Luneng are the only other side to have won more than a single title.
Six clubs who have featured in the original Chinese Super League are no longer in existence.
2018-19 Chinese Super League Prediction Report
Guangzhou Evergrande have an excellent recent record in the league and the holders were unsurprisingly priced up as the favourites for the new season. They were given a 37.04% implied probability for the 2018 campaign. Fabio Cannavaro returned to the club and became the club’s new manager, taking over Luis Felipe Scolari who had refused to sign a new contract. This upheaval perhaps led to some uncertainty in the betting markets.
They signed a number of new players ahead of the campaign including Nemanja Gudelj and Tang Shi. The most eye-catching signings were the additions of Paulinho and Talisca, who both arrived on loan during the off-season.
Shanghai SIPG were also high in the betting and they were given a 26.67% implied probability of success this season. They were another side who had a change of manager during the winter months with Andre Villas Boas departing and being replaced by Vitor Pereira. Their talented squad which included Oscar, Elkeson and Hulk meant that they were heavily fancied for success this season.
Hebei were given a 12.50% chance according to the implied probability and they were another side who were expected to be challenging at the right end of the table. Manuel Pellegrini began the season in charge and the experienced Chilean was fancied to guide his side towards the AFC Champions League spots. Amongst his squad was veteran Argentinian Javier Mascherano.
Bejing Guoan had an implied probability of 10.00% and although they weren’t considered as direct threats to the favourites, they possessed a strong squad and were considered dark horses. Cedric Bakambu, who had a wonderful season in La Liga was one of the more eye-catching signings in the division and his arrival was certainly likely to help their chances of success.
Shanghai Shenua were given just a 5.26% implied probability, the same as Tianjin Quanjin. The latter were managed by Paolo Sousa who had vast experience in coaching across the top leagues of Europe.
2018-19 Chinese Super League
Shanghai SIPG clinched their first ever CSL title and dethroned reigning champions – Guangzhou Evergrande. Their 2-1 victory over Beijing Renhe managed to secure them the silverware and automatic entry into the Champions League. They finished second last season and it was a terrific success for new manager Vitor Pereira.
Favourites and perennial champions Guangzhou Evergrande finished second and also qualified for the Champions League. Wu Lei finished as the top scorer in the division with 27 goals.
Yanbian Funde and Liaoning F.C were the two sides who were relegated from the Chinese Super League at the end of the campaign.
