Three teams through in ACL, one huge game in the title race: The Chinese Football Podcast s3e21

This week we wait until the dust settles on the AFC Champions League group stage before reflecting on the last-day drama – how disappointed will Guoan be to exit the competition, and what were the key moments in their campaign? With the other three sides making it through to the knockout stage, we review a job well done and preview a tricky tie for SIPG along with an all-China affair between Evergrande and Shandong – is this good news for the fans, or a disappointingly local feel for the Champions League?

There’s plenty to look back on in the CSL before moving to the title picture – we’ve opinions on Evergrande breaking their own rules, Chris Coleman’s tenure in Hebei, Tianjin TEDA’s quiet achievers and some fun nominations for Phenomenon of the Week.

Attention shifts to the top-of-the-table clash between Shanghai International Port Group and Guoan – will this be a knockout blow for Guoan, or are the reigning champions still set to retain their crown? Predictions differ, but the panel agree this will be a must-watch game for the CSL fan or neutral, both in terms of drama and quality.

Host Steve Crooks is joined by Chinese football experts Cameron Wilson in Shanghai and Brandon Chemers in Beijing for this week’s episode.

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