Top-chase, positional battles, and first-victory assaults unfold—Preview of the 8th match week of the Guangdong Super League.

To ensure consistent scheduling during the final stretch of the Guangdong Super League's East and West zones, the last two rounds of the West Zone (Rounds 8 and 9) and the last two rounds of the East Zone (Rounds 10 and 11) will be held simultaneously on July 18 and 25 respectively. On June 27, only four matches of the East Zone's 8th round will take place, along with the postponed West Zone match between Yangjiang and Zhongshan, originally from May 17, now rescheduled to June 27. Additionally, the East Zone Round 8 match between Shenzhen and Shantou has been moved to July 5 due to a clash with Shenzhen's high school entrance exam.

This weekend's five Guangdong Super League matches continue with derby themes: the fourth "Hakka Derby" between Meizhou and Heyuan, as well as two "Chaoshan-Hakka Derbies" involving Chaozhou vs. Shaoguan and Huizhou vs. Shanwei. The increasingly intense battle for playoff spots in the East Zone is also a focal point. Meizhou, on a five-match winning streak after last round, aims to widen the gap with another away victory. Qingyuan, also victorious last round, remains just two points behind Meizhou, ready to overtake at any moment. The five teams ranked 4th to 8th are separated by only three points, competing for the remaining three playoff berths. As the regular season enters its final phase, the playoff spot race will be the biggest highlight.

Jieyang lost 0-1 away to Qingyuan last round and currently sits in fifth place in the East Zone; Dongguan lost 0-1 at home to Meizhou last round and is currently in fourth place. Both teams have nine points, making this a true positional battle. Jieyang has a home record of 2 wins and 1 loss in its previous three home games, beating Shantou and Chaozhou while only losing to strong opponent Meizhou. Although Dongguan is ranked higher, its away performance is a mere 2 draws and 1 loss, showing a relative weakness on the road. For Jieyang, which is adept at collecting points at home, this match presents a good opportunity to overtake Dongguan.

This weekend, Jieyang's home ground will continue to feature the Chaoshan culture exhibition themed "Love Letter to Grandma". Before the match, performances of Yingge dance and Qing lion intangible cultural heritage will take turns on stage. Fans can visit the ancient city of Jieyang before or after the game, exploring landmarks such as Jinxianmen Gate Tower, Jieyang Confucian Temple, and the Qilou buildings on Zhongshan Road, checking out the same filming locations as the movie "Love Letter to Grandma". They can also browse creative shops and taste local snacks like sugar-onion thin pancakes, wumi guo, and pingpang guo, immersing themselves in the cultural charm of this historic hometown of overseas Chinese.

Meizhou defeated Dongguan 1-0 away last round, extending its winning streak to five games, and currently sits second in the East Zone with one game in hand. Heyuan drew 0-0 at home against Huizhou last round and is now sixth in the East Zone. Meizhou aims for a sixth consecutive victory at home this round; they trail the East Zone leader Shenzhen by only four points, and since Shenzhen's match this round is postponed, a win for Meizhou would cut the gap to one point. Heyuan has conceded only six goals in six matches, displaying strong defense, and has remained unbeaten in the last two rounds. They will surely do their utmost to block Meizhou and secure their own playoff spot.

For this "Hakka Derby", Wuhua has prepared a rich array of cultural and tourism activities. At 4:30 PM on match day, the "Football Innovation Integration for Shared Prosperity" football maker series will kick off. In addition to the traditional pre-game intangible cultural heritage performances, Hakka sachets will be distributed to spectators. During halftime, two "UFO" drones will put on a 30-meter low-altitude light show. Furthermore, fans attending the match can participate in multiple rounds of lucky draws, with seven major prizes offering surprises, including home appliances, digital devices, premium liquor, and specialty gifts.

Huizhou drew 0-0 away against Heyuan last round and is currently tenth in the East Zone; Shanwei lost 1-2 at home to Chaozhou last round and sits eighth in the East Zone. After seven rounds, Huizhou has yet to taste victory, with four regular-season games remaining. This match is their second-to-last home game, and the entire team will launch a fierce assault for their first win. Shanwei lost the "Chaoshan Derby" at home 1-2 to Chaozhou last round, not only giving their opponents their first league win but also missing a golden opportunity to break into the top six. Although playing away this round, Shanwei will strive to take all three points and continue their push for the top six in the East Zone.

To attract more fans to the stadium, Huizhou has put considerable effort into this match. On match day, in addition to continuing the "Guangdong Super League Intangible Cultural Heritage Food Carnival" at East Gate Square, a grand collective wedding ceremony for a hundred couples will be held at the venue, blending the passion of the green pitch with joyful romance. Moreover, fans at the scene can participate in a lucky draw, with prizes including a 98-inch large-screen TV, cultural tourism blind boxes, and signed footballs from Hong Kong celebrities.

Chaozhou defeated Shanwei 2-1 away last round, securing its first win in the Guangdong Super League, and currently ranks ninth in the East Zone. Shaoguan lost 1-3 at home to Shenzhen last round and sits in eleventh place in the East Zone. The two teams are evenly matched; although both are near the bottom, a win this round would keep them in contention for the playoffs. Chaozhou, buoyed by its first victory, naturally aims for consecutive wins at home. However, Shaoguan managed to score first against Shenzhen last round and has conceded only seven goals in six matches, proving its ability to take points from Chaozhou. A fierce battle between the two sides is inevitable.

During the event, Chaozhou will set up an intangible cultural heritage creative market outside the stadium. Fans can experience the charm of non-heritage arts such as bead embroidery, Fengxi ceramics, and Gongfu tea ceremonies, and also taste local specialties like hand-beaten beef balls, guotiao soup, braised goose, and fermented tofu cakes.

Yangjiang drew 1-1 at home against Maoming last round and is currently seventh in the West Zone; Zhongshan defeated Jiangmen 3-1 at home last round and ranks ninth in the West Zone. The match between Yangjiang and Zhongshan is the only West Zone game this week. Yangjiang is just one point behind sixth-place Jiangmen, which is in the playoff zone, and only two points behind fifth-place Maoming. With one game in hand, a home win would lift them to fifth place. Yangjiang boasts Lin Zitao, who has scored four goals and is tied for second on the top scorers list. Last round, they were held to a draw at home by Maoming, missing out on three points, and they certainly do not want to let another opportunity slip away. However, their opponents Zhongshan are only one point behind them and will not easily hand over the victory. This match is crucial for playoff qualification, with both teams having a chance—a fierce clash is imminent.

Last round, Yangjiang's home ground featured the stunning original intangible cultural heritage performance "Hao Han Lvyin" (Call Shock the Green Field) from Hailing Island, which captivated the audience. This weekend, Yangjiang will play at home again, and traditional intangible heritage performances will still be held before the match. Additionally, booths offering local cuisine and intangible cultural heritage products around the Yangxi home stadium will continue to let fans savor the flavors of the mountains and sea of Yangxi.