Mid-season highlights of the Chinese Super League: Top 10 local players offer Shao Jiayi a wealth of options

Written by Han Bing After 15 rounds, the CSL's first half ends—time for a summary. Foreigners occupying crucial roles have been the main protagonists for most teams, but among domestic players, there are also those with eye-catching statistics and excellent form. They have formed strong partnerships with foreign players, becoming key pillars supporting their teams' progress.

Based on the data and form of local players in the first half, our newspaper has selected the top 10 domestic performers. Most of these players were named to China's national team squad for June, though a few were omitted. Being a national team call-up is not the sole criterion; consideration was given to individual performance and impact on their clubs during the first half of the season.

Among domestic players in the first half, Wei Shihao is undoubtedly the MVP.

As captain of Chengdu Rongcheng, he has become more mature and consistent than last season. Starting all 15 matches, he recorded 6 goals and 2 assists. Only three local players appear in the top 20 for goal involvements in the CSL's first half, with Wei Shihao (8 involvements) trailing only Zhang Yuning (11).

Wei Shihao attempted 40 shots with 19 on target (47.5% accuracy), ranking among the best. He also placed in the top six for dribbles (61) and successful dribbles (34). Additionally, he averaged 2.7 dribbles per game and 2.1 key passes, playing a crucial role in Chengdu's attack. Defensively, his tackles (15), interceptions (7), and clearances (19) all showed significant improvement over last season.

Compared to last year, Wei Shihao has covered more ground this season and performed better in key matches. He can score through individual breakthroughs, drop deep to organize, actively participate in defense and pressing, and has notably improved his emotional control. He is the only local forward who combines speed, dribbling, cutting inside to shoot, crossing, and playmaking skills.

The top local scorer in the CSL's first half, Zhang Yuning's goals, assists, and goal involvements all rank among the top 10 in the league.

With stable attacking efficiency, he contributed to goals in 10 of his 14 appearances. He found the net or assisted against traditional powerhouses like Taishan, Shenhua, Rongcheng, Haigang, and the surprise package Tongliang Long. His 11 goal involvements directly earned Guo'an 8 points. In just the first half, Zhang Yuning's attacking output has already surpassed his entire last season (6 goals, 4 assists), and is second only to his 2022 campaign (8 goals, 4 assists) in the same period. Both statistically and performance-wise, he is currently the top local center-forward.

Zhang Yuning has been Guo'an's attacking "engine," accounting for 42.3% of the team's total goals. Beyond his goals, assists, and involvements ranking high in the CSL, his ability to hold up the ball, distribute in the box, and serve as a pivot stands out. His aerial prowess is strong, and he also drops deep to link play, making him a focal point in attack.

With Fabio struggling for form, Zhang Yuning has shouldered the scoring burden. All seven of his goals came from open play inside the box, showcasing his all-around ability as a center-forward and making him the tactical core of Guo'an's frontline.

Zhu Chenjie is the CSL's best local center-back in the first half, as well as Shanghai Shenhua's defensive anchor and attacking weapon.

As Shenhua's defensive pillar, he missed only 13 minutes across 15 matches, leading the team in playing time. Defensively, his 81 clearances rank among the top eight in the CSL. He wins an average of 3.8 duels per game, with a success rate of over 90% in one-on-one defending. As Shenhua's defensive leader during a seven-match winless slump in the first half, he made numerous crucial clearances to prevent heavy losses and also contributed significantly going forward.

As a center-back, Zhu Chenjie recorded 4 goals and 1 assist. In three of Shenhua's seven winless draws, he either scored or assisted to earn points. Trailing 2-0 at home to Tongliang Long after 30 minutes, he scored a brace to level the match; in Round 15 against West Coast, he equalized again. Without the five goals Zhu Chenjie—the "scoring defender"—contributed, Shenhua would be hovering near the relegation zone. He excels in one-on-one defending, possesses outstanding long-range passing, and his goal-scoring ability is a vital weapon for Shenhua. Zhu Chenjie was both the defensive backbone and spiritual leader for Shenhua in the first half.

Veteran midfielder Zhang Xizhe, at 35, pulled Beijing Guo'an out of a slump and onto an upward trajectory with his excellent performances in the latter part of the first half.

In the 7 matches where Zhang Xizhe wore the captain's armband, Guo'an collected 12 points (3 wins, 3 draws, 1 loss), compared to just 8 points (2 wins, 2 draws, 4 losses) in the first 8 rounds. Zhang Xizhe is Guo'an's midfield maestro and set-piece taker. Three of his 4 goals came from penalties, with a 100% conversion rate. His 6 goal involvements earned Guo'an 6 points, including a stunning goal against Shenzhen Xinpengcheng that secured all three points.

Zhang Xizhe ranks in the top 10 in the CSL for key passes (32), crosses, and successful crosses. His set-piece delivery is also a key attacking tool for Guo'an. Over the last 6 rounds, his set pieces contributed to 3 Guo'an goals. In the final match of the first half away to Tongliang Long, his free-kick assist set up Fabio's goal, and the match winner came from a key pass that forced the opposing goalkeeper into an error. He is not only the steady hand in midfield but also a leader in the dressing room, stepping up to drive the team's resurgence in the last 7 rounds.

One of the best domestic wide players in the CSL's first half, Xie Wenneng earned consistent playing time and formed effective partnerships with foreign players in Taishan's attack, a unit dominated by imports—proof of his quality.

In the first half, Xie Wenneng recorded 4 goals and 2 assists, particularly impressing with goal involvements in four consecutive matches late in the half. With 17 shots, 8 on target, and 4 goals, his finishing efficiency was solid. He possesses decent dribbling ability, can provide support for teammates, and draws significant defensive attention. Xie Wenneng boasts league-leading explosiveness and good cutting inside ability; at 25, he is in his prime.

Chengdu Rongcheng claimed the mid-season title largely due to their solid defense. In the new season, Rongcheng reshuffled their center-back pairing, with Han Pengfei and Sorokin forming a new duo. Han Pengfei's consistent displays earned the head coach's full trust as the sweeper center-back.

Han Pengfei's clearances (73), passes (649), and successful passes (577) rank among the league's best, with an 88.9% pass completion rate and even higher stats in his own half. He enjoys superior aerial dominance among domestic players, neutralizing numerous opponent attacks. Rongcheng's status as the team with the fewest goals conceded on their way to the mid-season title owes much to the center-back pairing of Han Pengfei and Sorokin.

A standout among defensive midfielders in the CSL's first half, Wang Shangyuan played all 15 matches. His passes (836) and successful passes (673) rank near the top of the league, making him the best defensive midfielder among local players. His key passes (22) also place highly among defensive midfielders, and his running distance and coverage are among the best for Chinese players.

As Henan FC's midfield core, he is a rare top-class holding midfielder in the CSL, boasting high long-pass accuracy and decent long-range shooting ability. Henan ranks third in the league for defensive stats, a feat closely tied to Wang Shangyuan's successful construction of a midfield barrier.

Rongcheng's first-half title was built on excellent defense. They conceded only 13 goals, the best defensive record in the CSL.

As the starting goalkeeper for the team that conceded the fewest goals in the first half, 35-year-old Liu Dianzuo performed steadily, keeping 6 clean sheets in 15 matches. He made several crucial saves, notably during Rongcheng's unbeaten run of 5 wins and 1 draw in April, when he faced 20 shots and saved 17, boasting an 85% save rate and being named CSL Goalkeeper of the Month for April.

In May, he made 5 saves in a match against Henan, including a penalty stop from Gustavo, securing a vital win for Rongcheng. Additionally, Liu Dianzuo was steady in distributing the ball from the back, leading the league in long passes (245) and successful long passes (86).

Gao Tianyi is an excellent deep-lying playmaker as well as Shenhua's set-piece taker.

On the assist leaderboard, Gao Tianyi is tied with Serginho and Zhang Yuning for first place among local players. His crosses (113) and successful crosses (34) both rank in the top two in the CSL. Key passes (30) and tackles (30) also feature high in the league. His set pieces are a key goal-scoring method for the team, with 3 of his 4 assists coming from dead-ball situations. Gao Tianyi is tenacious in defense, excels at orchestrating attacks, and boasts high long-pass accuracy. His presence ensures smooth midfield transitions for Shenhua.

The midfield metronome for Beijing Guo'an and a top-tier playmaker in the CSL, Serginho's first half has been a story of growing into form. His total passes and forward passes rank among the league's elite, while his key passes (35) rank third and crosses (84) and successful crosses (34) both sit in the top five. After managing only one assist in the first 8 rounds, Serginho recorded 2 goals and 3 assists in the last 7, including an assist in the final match of the half that set up Guo'an's late winner against Tongliang Long. His 6 goal involvements earned Guo'an 4 points.

Serginho possesses excellent attacking awareness, and his shift to a deeper role as a metronome has directly improved Guo'an's attacking efficiency. However, as a talented naturalized player, his numbers could still be even better.