The title race is over, but the battle for AFC Champions League spots is heating up: the Chinese Super League's "second-tier" free-for-all is in full swing.

Following the 22nd round of the 2026 CSL season, the league shows a stark contrast. With frontrunner Chengdu Rongcheng nearly clinching the title with a 13-point lead, the main question is no longer the champion but the runner-up. From second to seventh place, six teams are tightly packed within a 3-point gap, sparking a fierce and dramatic "second-tier" position battle.

Rongcheng streaks ahead, title race loses suspense.

The CSL title race seems to have reached an early conclusion. Although Chengdu Rongcheng has recently struggled as opponents have figured out their tactics, even losing 0-1 away to Yunnan Yukun in Round 22 and going winless in six matches (5 draws, 1 loss), their huge early-season advantage keeps them at the top with 45 points. With only eight rounds left, Rongcheng, leading by 13 points, has essentially secured the trophy.

However, while the championship seems clear, Rongcheng's recent slump has sparked widespread discussion among fans. Under the cloud of consecutive winless matches, doubts about head coach John Aloisi are growing. How to regain winning rhythm and dignity while ensuring the title will be their top priority in the remaining games.

Six-team melee: a "hellish battlefield" within a 3-point gap.

Compared to the calm in the title race, the "second group" in the middle of the table is turbulent and dangerous. After the 22nd round,Qingdao West Coast and Dalian Yingbo both have 32 points, ranking second and third; Yunnan Yukun follows with 31; Shandong Taishan and Beijing Guoan have both recently achieved consecutive wins, with 30 and 29 points respectively; while former "dark horse" Chongqing Tonglianglong, after six winless matches, has dropped to seventh with 29 points.

From second-place West Coast to seventh-place Tonglianglong, six teams are locked in a tight battle within a 3-point margin. With only eight rounds left and a maximum of 24 points available, any draw or even a red card could instantly shatter a team's AFC Champions League dream. This extreme closeness makes every remaining round a true "six-pointer."

Key matches review: some rise, some fall behind.

Several key matchups in Round 22 perfectly illustrate the brutality of the "second-tier" competition.

At Chongqing's home ground, former dark horse Chongqing Tonglianglong faced Shanghai Port in a five-goal thriller. Although Tonglianglong took the lead, Port staged a dramatic 3-2 comeback with a brace from foreign striker Leonardo and a goal from Wei Zhen. This loss extended Tonglianglong's winless streak to six matches, dropping them from second to seventh, their dark horse luster fading under the packed schedule. Meanwhile, Port's valuable three points temporarily lifted them away from the relegation zone.

At Jinan Olympic Sports Center, Shandong Taishan's clash with Tianjin Jinmen Tiger was equally thrilling. Jinmen Tiger took the lead in the 79th minute, but a rejuvenated Taishan under new management showed great resilience. Liu Yang equalized with a header in the 84th minute, and in the 3rd minute of stoppage time, Crysan completed a last-gasp solo winner. This 2-1 comeback not only gave Taishan a second consecutive win, pushing them back into the top five, but also ended Jinmen Tiger's winning streak, leaving their survival hopes still precarious.

In Zhengzhou, the 0-0 draw between Henan and Qingdao West Coast was full of regrets. Henan dominated the match, with Gustavo and He Chao both hitting the post, but failed to convert their dominance into goals. West Coast managed to grab a point, but were caught up by Dalian Yingbo, leaving their second-place position in jeopardy.

Outlook: the life-or-death battle for AFC Champions League qualification in the final eight rounds.

With the match between Zhejiang and Wuhan Three Towns postponed due to a typhoon, Round 22 left a small suspense, but it does not affect the overall trend. For the six teams—Qingdao West Coast, Dalian Yingbo, Yunnan Yukun, Shandong Taishan, Beijing Guoan, and Chongqing Tonglianglong—every remaining match is a final.

Will traditional powerhouses Shandong Taishan and Beijing Guoan rely on their deep heritage to overtake? Or will dark horses like Qingdao West Coast and Dalian Yingbo continue their charge? Or will Yunnan Yukun keep disrupting with their strong home advantage? Within a 3-point gap, there are no absolute strong or weak teams.

With the championship suspense ended early by Chengdu Rongcheng, the passion of the CSL has not dissipated. On the contrary, the fierce battle among these six teams for tickets to the AFC Champions League Elite (CSL champion + FA Cup winner) and the AFC Champions League 2 (CSL runner-up) may be the most realistic, brutal, and captivating chapter of this season. Let's wait and see for the final eight rounds.

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