Chinese Super League: Guangzhou Evergrande and Jiangsu Suning draw in title decider first leg
- Jiangsu Suning hold champions Guangzhou Evergrande to 0-0 draw in Suzhou to set up winner takes all second leg
- Coronavirus pandemic-affected season set to conclude on Thursday with title decider
The first leg of the Chinese Super League 2020 season title decider between champions Guangzhou Evergrande and Jiangsu Suning took place in Suzhou in Sunday with the game ending in a 0-0 draw.
That means the championship will be decided in the winner-takes-all second leg in the same stadium on Thursday, bringing down the curtain on a bizarre season that could end with Suning winning an unexpected first CSL title.
The coronavirus pandemic has seen the season divided into two stages with teams confined to bubbles, unable to leave the hotel but for training and matches. The players have been joined in these bubbles by match officials and club staff.
The finalists were both in the Dalian group for the eight-team mini league, winning one game each in the first half of the season before moving to Suzhou for the second stage.
While Fabio Cannavaro’s side have won eight of the last nine league titles, they are at a slight disadvantage this time now that fans are allowed back into stadiums.
An estimated 10,000 fans will be in attendance again on Thursday, with the trip easier from Jiangsu province capital Nanjing at just over 200km compared to more than 1,400km from Guangzhou.