We bring you the weekly news of all things Chinese football. This week includes multiple players who are having great starts to the season and a manager who is proving to be a great appointment. In other news there is a huge departure for one of the big money signings in the CSL.
Diego Tardelli and Li Xiaopeng help fire Shandong Luneng to an impressive start to the season
Shandong Luneng have made an incredible start to the season under Li Xiaopeng in his first season in charge having won their first three games of the season. Xiopeng made the jump to manage Luneng after leaving Chinese Division Two side, Qingdao Jonoon FC. The remarkable start has also thanks to Diego Tardelli who has scored five goals in three games to help lift Luneng to second and behind Shanghai SIPG on goal difference. The goals return for Tardelli looks even better when you see Luneng have only scored seven goals in their first three games and he has been involved in 80% of their goals.
Acheampong nets hat trick on second debut
Frank Acheampong made quite the impression on his re-debut for Tianjin Teda as they beat Tianjin Quanjian in one of the shock results of the week. The Ghanaian winger scored a hat trick to help Teda to a 3-2 victory over Quanjian. The striker joined Teda in January from Anderlecht for fee around three million, after being on loan for the last part of the 2017 season.
Brazilian pair have a great 2018 which has helped Shanghai SIPG to top spot
Of course, the Brazilian pair in question are Oscar and Hulk for Shanghai SIPG. The pair have both made an incredible start to 2018 and in particular in the CSL. Oscar has scored seven goals in eight games in 2018. The former Chelsea midfield has got three goals in three games so far this season in the CSL. His fellow countryman and Shanghai teammate, Hulk also has a very impressive record having score four goals in eight games in 2018. Like Oscar, Hulk has also got three goals in three games in the CSL and the pair have helped SIPG to a great start to the season. SIPG currently sit top of the CSL after winning their opening three games. They also have a plus 13 goal difference scoring 15 goals and only having conceded two goals.
Martinez one of the biggest CSL flops
When, Jackson Martinez joined Guangzhou Evergrande for a fee in the region of £37 million from Atletico Madrid many people were shocked to see a prolific leave for the CSL. However, two years on Martinez’s horror move to the CSL as both him and Evergrande decide to mutually terminated his contract meaning £37 million pounds can walk off to another club on a free. Martinez only managed four goals in two years, but he would still be a quality striker for many clubs to pick up for free and the plus is he will be looking to rectify his career and get back to the lethal striker he was when he playing for FC Porto.