Report by Lu Mi In the opening round of the 2026 Chinese Super League, Chongqing Tongliang Dragon drew 0-0 away with Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, earning their first-ever CSL point. This game represented Chongqing football's comeback to the top flight after nearly 1400 days, and was also Liu Jianye's first match as a CSL manager. Securing a point on the road fulfilled the initial objective. Next, Tongliang Dragon will face Liaoning Iron Man, marking the Longxing Football Stadium's CSL debut and a clash between promoted sides. Chongqing Tongliang Dragon naturally hopes to secure a home victory in their opening home game.

First debut, first point—basically completing the task

The encounter between Chongqing Tongliang Dragon and Tianjin Jinmen Tiger was the first official meeting between the two clubs, and also the first head-to-head between managers Liu Jianye and Yu Genwei. Facing Jinmen Tiger, a team that had finished in the CSL top six for two consecutive seasons, the away side Tongliang Dragon prioritized stability, fielding their strongest lineup with five foreign players.

In the opening phase of the match, Tongliang Dragon actively pressed to control midfield, with Amadu and Li Zhenquan forming a defensive barrier, attempting to dictate tempo through a compact formation. However, Jinmen Tiger leveraged their CSL experience to target spaces behind Tongliang Dragon's defense, creating two threatening shots early on. Goalkeeper Yao Haoyang made consecutive excellent saves to keep the goal intact. In the 19th minute, a Jinmen Tiger corner led to a close-range attempt, which Yao Haoyang again heroically denied, becoming the key player in ensuring a clean sheet for the first half.

On the offensive end, Tongliang Dragon was constrained by the opponent's targeted defense, struggling to break through effectively in settled attacks. Their foreign forwards had few ball touches, mostly relying on quick counterattacks and set-pieces to seek opportunities. Only during first-half stoppage time did the team register their first shot of the match via a free-kick.

At full time, Tongliang Dragon secured their historic first CSL point through resilient defending. This match fully demonstrated the team's tactical discipline and defensive toughness: the three-center-back system operated smoothly, the overall formation remained compact, and they showed no fear or panic against an established strong side, achieving the initial goal of earning points in their promoted debut. Simultaneously, the team exposed issues such as limited attacking methods, poor connectivity in the front, and late substitution adjustments (changes were made only in the 89th minute). These problems need addressing in upcoming matches.

Getting one point in the first CSL round is not a bad result, especially for an away game. For a newly-promoted team, securing points, adapting, and磨合 are primary tasks. This draw not only boosts team confidence but also helps players quickly adjust to the CSL's intensity and rhythm, accumulating valuable experience for future games.

Need to solve attacking efficiency issues

On March 14, Chongqing Tongliang Dragon will play their first home match of the season at Longxing Football Stadium against fellow promoted side Liaoning Iron Man. This marks Longxing Stadium's CSL debut, a direct clash between 2026 CSL newcomers, and a face-off between two domestic coaches Liu Jianye and Li Jinyu—making the match's significance extend beyond just the three points.

Considering both teams' positioning, Chongqing Tongliang Dragon and Liaoning Iron Man aim to establish themselves in the CSL this season. Their first-round performances differed: Tongliang Dragon earned a point away against a strong team, showing great defensive resilience; Liaoning Iron Man lost 3-0 away to Shandong Taishan, failing to pose effective offensive threats and revealing defensive vulnerabilities, needing to adjust and recover points in the second round. Both sides deployed five foreign players in their opening matches.

Tactically, the two teams differ. Tongliang Dragon employs a three-center-back system, relying on solid defense to launch quick counters, with wing attacks and set-pieces as main scoring methods. Under Li Jinyu, Liaoning Iron Man primarily uses a four-back formation, typically a 4231, emphasizing midfield pressing and wing coordination. After their first-round loss, they are likely to reinforce their defense further. For Tongliang Dragon, playing at home requires improving attacking efficiency while maintaining defensive solidity, addressing the lack of shooting threat seen in the first round, and leveraging the home atmosphere to seize early advantage.

A home match holds special meaning for Tongliang Dragon. Chongqing football welcomes a CSL home game after many years. Based on current information, attendance at Longxing Football Stadium is expected to be quite high, with tens of thousands of fans cheering. With home support, Tongliang Dragon players will gain more confidence to win. Facing a peer opponent, Tongliang Dragon can further test their competitiveness in the CSL, providing reference for upcoming campaigns.