Five consecutive wins for Shenhua, the real test is just beginning

Special contribution/Gan Hui Facing the opponent described by Slutsky as "very difficult to deal with," Shenhua achieved a 3-0 victory away from home. In the next round, two teams with five consecutive wins—Shanghai Shenhua and Chengdu Rongcheng—will face each head-on. This match will take place on May 1 at Shenhua's home stadium, Shanghai Stadium.

Although arriving in Zhengzhou with a four-win streak, Slutsky remained very cautious about facing Henan team. "Henan has always been a very tough opponent, and the outcome of the match is hard to predict." In two encounters last July, Henan caused significant trouble for Shenhua. In the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, Henan eliminated Shenhua through a penalty shootout. In the subsequent league match, Shenhua also struggled intensely, eventually winning 3-2. Moreover, these two matches drained Shenhua's energy, leading to a prolonged period of poor form and a home loss to Shanghai Port, costing them a crucial title-deciding match. Therefore, even though Henan's recent performance has been poor—with two draws and three losses in the last five league matches, unable to secure a win—Slutsky dared not show any slack.

After the match started, Henan indeed created considerable trouble for Shenhua. Shenhua appeared somewhat passive at times, and Gustavo even had a shot that hit the frame.

Under unfavorable circumstances, Teixeira demonstrated exceptional individual ability, not only creating threats with two shots but also earning a penalty for the team. In the 36th minute, Teixeira was fouled in the penalty area. After a VAR reminder, referee Wang Jing reviewed the footage himself at the sideline, and Shenhua was awarded a penalty. Despite interference from laser pointers before the kick, Wu Xi's penalty was very steady, scoring directly and helping Shenhua take a 1-0 lead.

In the subsequent play, Shenhua still did not dominate the field, but the team showed stronger ability to seize opportunities. In the 63rd minute, Guy created chaos in the penalty area; his shot hit Ladong, but Shenhua launched a second wave of attack. Manafa's powerful shot from the right was saved, and Chen Jinyi scored on the rebound, extending the lead to 2-0.

In the 70th minute, Zhu Chenjie received a teammate's header and volleyed a shot. The ball hit the crossbar, bounced onto Henan goalkeeper Wang Guoming, and rolled toward the goal. Guy quickly rushed forward to poke the ball into the net, finalizing the score at 3-0.

After the match, Slutsky summarized, "Everyone can see the difficulty of this game. Both sides played after a four-day interval, which affected the physical condition of both teams. In the first half, we were very fortunate; Henan missed two excellent opportunities, while we capitalized on the penalty chance. In the second half, our entire team performed exceptionally well, tactically focusing on solid defense and counter-attacks, and we also did very well in seizing opportunities."

After completing the first 8 rounds of the new season with 6 wins and 2 draws, an insider from Shenhua calmly stated, "The real test is just beginning."

In the next three league matches, Shenhua will face Chengdu Rongcheng, Shandong Taishan, and Chongqing Tonglianglong in succession—each one a tough battle. Shenhua's upcoming three league matches are scheduled as follows: May 1, Shenhua hosts Chengdu Rongcheng at home; followed by May 5 away against Shandong Taishan; then May 9 returning home to face this season's surprise team, Chongqing Tonglianglong.

Among these, the match against Chengdu Rongcheng on May 1 is considered a focal point of this season's league. If penalty deductions are disregarded, Shenhua and Chengdu Rongcheng are the two most dominant teams since the start of the season and are widely regarded as the two strongest teams overall this season.

Since entering April, both teams have performed exceptionally well, winning all five league matches. In the just-concluded round, both teams achieved significant victories. After defeating Zhejiang 4-0, Chengdu Rongcheng equaled their club's record for the longest winning streak in the Chinese Super League—five consecutive wins.

This match is also seen as a crucial test for whether Shenhua can contend for the league championship. After 8 rounds, Shenhua, penalized with a 10-point deduction, trails Chengdu Rongcheng by a substantial 12-point gap—equivalent to four matches. This large point difference makes the outcome of their direct confrontation even more critical. If Shenhua can defeat Chengdu Rongcheng both at home and away, there remains a slim chance to miraculously overtake them; otherwise, bridging a 12-point gap would be "as difficult as climbing to heaven."

Of course, Shenhua's task of defeating Chengdu Rongcheng is not easy. Based on recent performances, Chengdu Rongcheng is also in excellent form. This new season, after acquiring Silva, Chengdu Rongcheng's attacking line has become more formidable, scoring 23 goals in 8 league matches—the highest among all CSL teams, 4 more than Shenhua's 19 goals. Looking at the recent encounters between the two teams over the past two years, Shenhua holds no advantage. In the last two seasons, Shenhua's record against Chengdu Rongcheng is 1 win, 2 draws, and 1 loss, with Shenhua drawing 1-1 at home in both matches.