In the 12th round of the Chinese Super League, Beijing Guoan will host Qingdao Hainiu at Workers’ Stadium. In previous seasons, Beijing Guoan would have been the clear favorite, but this time the situation is different. Qingdao Hainiu has been on an impressive run, defeating four consecutive former CSL champions—Shandong Taishan, Shanghai Port, Wuhan Three Towns, and Dalian Yingbo—since losing to Shanghai Shenhua on April 22. Their recent form has propelled them to within one point of Shenhua and two points ahead of Beijing Guoan.
A key factor behind Hainiu’s resurgence is their foreign player Ezuma, who has been dominating the running distance charts. In the latest round, he covered 13,191 meters, the most of any player. His relentless running has made it feel as if Hainiu always has an extra man on the pitch. Many observers have noticed the transformation of the running leaderboard from Zhou Dingyang to Ezuma, highlighting Hainiu’s excellent scouting this season.
In contrast, Beijing Guoan has had mixed fortunes at home. They suffered a 2-4 defeat to Hainiu at Workers’ Stadium in the 28th round of the 2025 season. Additionally, recent matches have seen controversial officiating decisions go against them, including goals disallowed against Shanghai Port and a disputed goal conceded against Chengdu Rongcheng.
Despite these setbacks, Beijing Guoan’s core lineup remains intact. Fabio has returned from injury, Da Wan is available, Ramos is in form, and Cao Yongjing is back after suspension. The team still possesses top-to-mid-table quality. As the saying goes, “no flower blooms for a hundred days,” and Hainiu’s four-match winning streak may be nearing its end. It could be time for Beijing Guoan to capitalize and collect points.