Written by Gan Hui, reported by journalist Lu Mi On December 9th and 10th, the 6th round of the AFC Champions League Elite East Asia zone matches will take place. Shanghai Shenhua and Chengdu Rongcheng will both travel to Japan, where they must summon their best strength against tough opponents, aiming to finish 2025 on a high note.

A tough away battle and also a farewell match

On December 10th, Shanghai Shenhua will face Hiroshima Sanfrecce in an away match, which will also mark Shenhua’s final game of 2025 in the AFC Champions League Elite East Asia zone. Today (December 8th), Shenhua will fly directly from Shanghai to Hiroshima to prepare for this closing match of 2025.

After the match against Vissel Kobe on November 26th, head coach Slutsky gave the players a short break. The team resumed training on December 2nd to fully prepare for the game against Hiroshima Sanfrecce. In their first session back, Slutsky did not arrange the usual training or recovery exercises but instead had the players undergo physical tests in groups. Slutsky has always prioritized monitoring players’ physical indicators through biochemical metrics. Scheduling these tests now allows him to better understand their condition and gather data to plan winter break training.

Since the Super Cup against Shanghai Port on February 7th, Shenhua has endured about 10 months of intense competition. Although the players are generally fatigued, the team will still give their all in the match against Hiroshima Sanfrecce.

Regarding personnel, Shenhua will still field their main lineup. Except for Li Ke, who was injured in the match against Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, and Yu Hanchao, who will transition to coaching next season, all other players are expected to travel to Japan. After the Vissel Kobe game, Slutsky revealed that it was Yu Hanchao’s final match as a professional player; next season he will join Shenhua’s coaching staff. Currently, Yu Hanchao is attending a coaching training course in Jiangsu, so he cannot participate in this game.

As the last match of 2025, the game against Hiroshima Sanfrecce will also serve as a farewell for some players’ careers at Shenhua. It is likely that a few players whose contracts expire at the end of 2025 will leave the club.

Currently, Shenhua ranks second to last in the AFC Champions League Elite East Asia zone with a record of 1 win, 1 draw, and 3 losses, accumulating 4 points. Hiroshima Sanfrecce stands fifth with 2 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss, totaling 8 points. With three league matches remaining, Shenhua faces a tough challenge to qualify. Their last three opponents in the AFC Champions League Elite are Hiroshima Sanfrecce (away), Machida Zelvia (home), and Buriram United from Thailand (away).

Judging by their performances in this season’s J League and AFC Champions League Elite, Hiroshima Sanfrecce is a team known for solid defense and average attacking power. They scored 46 goals and conceded 28 in 38 J League matches, while in 5 AFC Champions League Elite matches, they netted 5 and allowed 3. Whether Shenhua can break through Hiroshima’s defense will test their offensive capabilities.

Using determination as their weapon, striving to break through

On the evening of December 9th, the 6th round of the AFC Champions League Elite East Asia zone will feature a key match: Chengdu Rongcheng will visit J League powerhouse Vissel Kobe. Despite having only a 16% chance to advance, Rongcheng still holds the highest probability among the three Chinese Super League teams. This “do-or-die” game against the top-ranked team will directly determine their prospects in the AFC Champions League and whether Chinese teams can progress further in this competition.

Vissel Kobe has consistently performed strongly in the AFC Champions League, previously defeating Shanghai Shenhua 2-0 away and beating K League’s Ulsan Hyundai 1-0, demonstrating a mature possession system and efficient finishing. Although they recently lost an away J League match to Kyoto Sanga, their main squad remains stable, with well-managed rotation between league and continental matches. Chengdu Rongcheng is the best-performing Chinese Super League team in the AFC Champions League Elite, with 1 win, 2 draws, and 2 losses totaling 5 points, showing great resilience. Data indicates Shanghai Port’s chance to advance is only 1%, Shanghai Shenhua’s is 14%, while first-time participant Chengdu Rongcheng holds 16%.

After the Chinese Super League season ended, Rongcheng could focus fully on the AFC Champions League. Although there is a certain gap in strength between the two teams, Rongcheng is not without chances. To gain points on the road, Rongcheng must minimize unforced errors and capitalize on counterattacks and set-piece opportunities. Vissel Kobe excels at creating threats through wing crosses, so Rongcheng’s wing-backs need to retreat promptly in defense to prevent opponents from exploiting spaces on the flanks. Notably, the two teams have never faced each other before, so Rongcheng can learn from Shenhua’s match against Kobe and implement a high-pressing strategy to disrupt Kobe’s possession rhythm.

Regarding qualification prospects, Rongcheng must try to catch up in the remaining three matches, making the away game at Kobe crucial. A surprise victory would give the team control over their advancement chances; even a draw would keep hope alive for a late surge. More importantly than the result, this match is an opportunity to demonstrate the resilience of Chinese Super League teams. On December 9th at Kobe’s stadium, Chengdu Rongcheng will wield their fighting spirit to seek new life in this critical knockout battle.