On Saturday, May 16, at 19:35 Beijing time, the 12th round of the 2026 Chinese Super League season will see Shandong Taishan host Chongqing Tonglianglong at the Jinan Olympic Sports Center. This matchup pits a veteran Chinese powerhouse known for its unpredictability against a newly promoted side. The match will be broadcast live on CCTV16 (Olympic Channel) and Shandong Sports TV.
Shandong Taishan secured a 2-1 victory over Shenzhen Xinpengcheng in the last round, with Cresson scoring twice to become the hero of the match. In the 10th round, the team thrashed Shanghai Shenhua 4-1, where Cresson completed a hat trick, leading the team to two consecutive wins. His outstanding performances have almost reduced the team’s attack to “Cresson and his helpers.” Now, as they aim for three straight wins at home, Cresson continues to drive the team forward.
But can the match be without suspense? Certainly not. First, Li Yuanyi and Alvaro are both suspended due to four yellow cards each. While Su Maozhen has stated the team’s depth offers an advantage, fans see Li Yuanyi’s absence as manageable due to multiple replacements. However, without Alvaro, coach Han Peng’s reliance on a three-center-back formation becomes risky. If someone gets injured, he may be forced to switch to a four-man defense.
Chongqing Tonglianglong’s head coach, Liu Jianye, adopts a pragmatic approach, emphasizing solid defense and quick counterattacks. The team’s youthful energy has been impressive; in the last away match against Shanghai Shenhua, they scored two goals early but withdrew foreign striker Dimata too soon, missing a chance to finish strongly. Against Shandong Taishan, Liu is expected to set up a deep defensive line, focusing on shutting down opponents before exploiting weaknesses in Han Peng’s three-center-back system, relying on rapid counters.
Li Zhenquan is out with a fracture but is recovering, while Zhang Zhixiong has stepped up admirably, ranking among the top five in the league’s running distance chart alongside Chen Chunxin after Round 11. This shows the team’s ability to tire out opponents through relentless running. For Shandong Taishan, laziness is not an option; attacking cannot be solely Cresson’s responsibility, and defensive coordination is vital. Whenever the public favors Shandong, they often fail to deliver.
This match is not just an ordinary CSL game but also a mid-season test for two Chinese coaches. Han Peng, with Cresson as his trump card, faces Liu Jianye, who has transformed an underdog squad into a steel defense. Who will produce the better performance? The answer will come from Jinan Olympic Sports Center on May 16. May the match be exciting and fair.
