The Guangzhou Evergrande, one of the most successful football clubs in China, suffered its first defeat in the Chinese Super League (CSL) on Sunday, losing 1-0 to Jiangsu Suning at home.
The match was a stark reminder of the club's weaknesses in recent years as they struggled to compete with their rivals in the league.
Despite being one of the top teams in the league last season, Guangzhou has struggled this year and has only managed to win three out of their nine games so far.
The loss against Jiangsu also highlights the club's struggles in terms of defense as they conceded a goal in the final minutes of the game.
The team has been plagued by injuries and poor performances from key players such as Zhang Tiejun and Zhang Jindong, who have both missed significant time due to injury.
The club has also struggled to find a consistent attacking threat, with many fans questioning whether the squad is capable of competing with the best teams in the league.
Overall, the loss against Jiangsu Suning will be a wake-up call for Guangzhou and will likely lead to changes within the squad in order to improve their performance in the upcoming matches.