The relegation battle in China League One is also a "remote duel," with Shenzhen Youth holding a slight advantage on tiebreakers.

Reporter Wang Wei reports. Apart from the other promotion slot being decided in the last round of this season's China League One, another relegation place will also be settled then. After the 29th round matches, Guangxi Pingguo won 2-1 at home against Shanghai Jiading Huilong, while Shenzhen Youth drew 1-1 away with Dingnan Ganlian. Both Shenzhen Youth and Guangxi Pingguo have 25 points, but Shenzhen Youth ranks higher due to a better head-to-head record, placing Guangxi Pingguo second to last on the table. On November 8 at 2:30 pm, Guangxi Pingguo will visit Shaanxi United, and Shenzhen Youth will host the already relegated Qingdao Red Lions. The outcomes of these two matches will decide which team remains in China League One.

Looking at the performance over the first two-thirds of this season’s China League One, Shenzhen Youth's relegation risk was not high, but their recent form has been poor. In the past seven rounds, they managed only one draw and lost the other six, earning just one point in the last seven games. This poor run has pushed Shenzhen Youth into the relegation danger zone.

In the 29th round on November 1, Shenzhen Youth faced a near-disastrous situation: Dingnan Ganlian took the lead in the 14th minute; in the 29th minute, Zhu Guantao was sent off after a second yellow card for a tackle, leaving Shenzhen Youth with ten men while trailing 0-1. Fortunately, Shenzhen Youth fought back bravely, and in the 58th minute, Marchic scored a header from the back post to equalize. Ultimately, they held on to earn a valuable point despite being a man down for much of the match.

After the match, Shenzhen Youth’s head coach Zhang Jun expressed gratitude to the players for their effort until the final minute, saying, "Even after conceding first and being reduced to ten men, we managed to equalize, showing our fighting spirit. This point is crucial in our battle to avoid relegation. We will rest well and prepare for the important final home game."

In another relegation showdown in the 29th round, Guangxi Pingguo hosted Shanghai Jiading Huilong. In the 19th minute, Hu Jiajin opened the scoring with a long-range shot; in the 36th minute, Liu Hao assisted Yao Diran, who headed in to extend the lead. After halftime, Shanghai Jiading Huilong pulled one back in the 54th minute, but Guangxi Pingguo held on to win 2-1 at home, securing three points and a chance to fight Shenzhen Youth for a relegation spot in the final round.

After the match, Guangxi Pingguo’s head coach Maeda Koji said, "This was a rare and memorable game for many players. I believe they performed well from start to finish. Our players were a bit nervous in such a crucial match, but they executed the attacking patterns we practiced. I think they played very well today. For the last game, I hope to finish the 2025 season with a win and successfully avoid relegation to remain in China League One."

In the last round, if Shenzhen Youth beats Qingdao Red Lions at home, they will secure their safety. If they fail to take points from the Red Lions, their fate will depend on the result between Guangxi Pingguo and Shaanxi United.

According to reports, since the Shenzhen district is hosting the 15th National Games events, the match between Shenzhen Youth and Qingdao Red Lions, originally scheduled for November 8, 2025, at Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Field 1, will be closed to the public. Currently, Shenzhen Youth is working through official club channels to arrange compensation and refunds for season ticket holders and fan club members who purchased tickets.