The Year of the Horse CSL season kicks off with fiery passion! Can Rongcheng or New Peng City become the first team to earn positive points in the 2026 CSL?

Reporter Lu Mi reports On March 6, the 2026 Chinese Super League season will kick off at Chengdu Rongcheng's home stadium, pitting last season's third-placed team, Chengdu Rongcheng, against a significantly rebuilt Shenzhen New Peng City. This curtain-raiser is not just the first match of the new season for both sides; it stands as a landmark fixture for the league's fresh start following extensive point penalties imposed on clubs.

On one side is a stable, title-contending favorite starting with zero deductions; on the other is a newly strengthened force undergoing intense integration. Their contrasting pre-season preparations precisely reflect the chaotic yet suspenseful unique landscape at the start of this CSL season, heightening anticipation for the passionate beginning of the Year of the Horse CSL.

As one of the most consistent teams last season, Chengdu Rongcheng welcomes a new coaching staff this term, with renowned Australian manager John Aloisi taking charge. The team has honed his tactical approach through winter training and AFC Champions League group stage matches. The core squad remains largely intact, with foreign players Felipe and Romulo staying, and key domestic players like Wei Shihao, Liu Dianzuo, and Liao Lisheng maintaining stable form. This existing chemistry is Rongcheng's greatest pre-season advantage, requiring no major overhaul.

During the winter transfer window, Rongcheng addressed weaknesses by signing foreign center-back Sorokin, who brings Champions League experience, to bolster the defense, and Brazilian defensive midfielder Yusa to fill the void left by Zhou Dingyang's departure. They also brought in U23 international Bai Helamu and forward Wang Ziming to add more attacking options. The team completed a full winter training cycle with no major injury setbacks, transitioning their tactical system from a back three to a back four. Crucially, Chengdu Rongcheng is the only team among the title contenders not penalized with point deductions, starting the season with a clean slate of 0 points. This gives them a natural advantage over many big clubs burdened with point deficits. Their pre-season goal is clear: leverage their formidable home atmosphere to secure an opening victory, laying a solid foundation for their title challenge. The team's preparation is steady and motivated, free from distractions and focused solely on competition.

At the pre-match press conference, John Aloisi stated: "Our players are very excited now and ready for the first league match. I think our preparation has been thorough, with progress in every friendly match. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's game. The two AFC Champions League matches were very helpful for us, as were the two friendlies before we faced Machida. We have an advantage playing at home, where the atmosphere is excellent. I hope for a great atmosphere again tomorrow."

In stark contrast to Chengdu's stability, Shenzhen New Peng City has undergone an almost complete squad overhaul this season, bringing in 15 new signings during the winter window, making them the busiest team in the CSL transfer period. Having narrowly avoided relegation for two consecutive seasons, New Peng City aims to challenge for a top-half finish this year. Their recruitment drive has been intense: domestic signings include former Chengdu Rongcheng captain Zhou Dingyang, along with Dai Weijun and Yao Junsheng, while foreign reinforcements feature Benkovic, Ademi, and Awusu. On paper, their strength has surged into the CSL's upper tier, shedding their relegation-battler label.

However, such large-scale changes pose integration challenges. Head coach Chen Tao emphasized "calm" in a pre-match interview, stating that blending the new players is the biggest test. New Peng City's pre-season strategy is pragmatic, focusing on solid defense and counter-attacks. They rely on Zhou Dingyang's midfield interception and organization, Benkovic's defensive leadership, and look to create threats through wing raids and midfield runs.

Notably, Shenzhen New Peng City also starts without point deductions, placing them on the same footing as Chengdu Rongcheng. The subplots of Zhou Dingyang facing his former club and Bai Helamu playing against his old team add emotional and tactical intrigue to this opener. Despite potential磨合 issues, New Peng City is highly motivated and could spring a surprise with their energetic approach.

The most distinctive feature of this CSL season is the heavy penalties imposed by the football association for historical violations. Nine CSL teams have been deducted points for the new season, a record in professional league history. Shanghai Shenhua and Tianjin Jinmen Tiger were each docked 10 points, Qingdao Hainiu 7 points, Shandong Taishan and Henan FC 6 points each, and Shanghai Port, Beijing Guoan, Zhejiang FC, and Wuhan Three Towns 5 points each. Over half of the 16 participating teams begin with point deficits, completely颠覆 the early-season landscape.

Under these特殊 circumstances, the early phase of the CSL will present a distinctly different competitive dynamic. On one hand, teams like Chengdu Rongcheng and Shenzhen New Peng City, starting with zero deductions, are hot candidates for the top tier of the table. Every victory can quickly widen the gap over penalized teams, making early-point gathering efficiency crucial for the season's trajectory. The winner of the opener无疑 gains an early advantage. On the other hand, teams like Shenhua and Jinmen Tiger, starting 10 points down, are in crisis from the first round. Every match becomes a must-win to escape the deficit, requiring at least 3-4 extra wins just to break even, creating unprecedented pressure. Traditional powerhouses like Shandong Taishan and Shanghai Port also begin with negative points; even wins only gradually offset the penalty,彻底 disrupting their title-chasing rhythm. The margin for error in the early stages is extremely slim, with any slip-up potentially leaving teams at the bottom.

Simultaneously, the point deduction chaos injects more suspense into the league competition. The traditional hierarchy of strong and weak teams is broken. Mid-to-lower table sides have an opportunity to snatch points while traditional giants focus on recovering their deficits, ending the monopoly of the established elite. Every round will be full of variables. While the widespread deductions create early-season uncertainty, they also wipe the slate clean of past issues, making every point precious and every victory more valuable. This seemingly chaotic situation actually forces the league to回归 its competitive essence. Teams, free from off-field distractions, must rely solely on preparation quality, player form, and tactical execution to win, potentially allowing the pure competitive passion of the CSL to return.

The opening match between Chengdu Rongcheng and Shenzhen New Peng City is not only a top-tier clash for both teams but also the prologue to the turbulent 2026 CSL season. On one side is a steady, mature squad aiming for the title; on the other is a bold,新生 force striving for a breakthrough. On the evening of the 6th at Phoenix Hill, the eyes of the entire CSL will converge. The tone for the 2026 CSL will be set right here by these two teams.