Journalist Lu Mi reports On July 11th in Chengdu, the second leg of the 2026 Sichuan-Chongqing derby ended in a 1-1 draw in front of more than 40,000 spectators. Both derbies this season finished as draws, which was a bit of a letdown for supporters of both teams.

The two encounters appeared to be a crucial battle between the Chinese Super League's top side and the runner-up, but in reality, the difference in squad strength was considerable. Liu Jianye's Chongqing Tonglianglong sparked a youth storm, and his precise player selection and meticulous tactical arrangements enabled the team to avoid defeat and earn points despite being under pressure in both derbies.

Avoid being blown away in the first half, and there will be a chance

Over the two legs of the Sichuan-Chongqing derby, young coach Liu Jianye and his youthful Chongqing Tonglianglong left a deep impression on all CSL teams. Facing Rongcheng, the strongest and most dominant team this season, Liu Jianye showed great confidence, and the course of both games seemed to be exactly as he had "calculated."

In the first meeting of the season, the two sides were relatively unfamiliar with each other. Compared to their China League One days, Tonglianglong had undergone significant changes in both personnel and tactics. Chengdu Rongcheng, a strong contender for the CSL title, had also made notable tactical adjustments after switching to a four-back formation this season. Liu Jianye fully recognized the gap between the two teams and therefore adopted a very humble approach from the start.

To counter Chengdu Rongcheng's high possession rate, strong wing attacks, and skilled positional play, Liu Jianye established a core tactical approach of solid defense and counterattacks—first exhausting the opponent, then waiting for opportunities. Using a five-back system, he relied on multiple young defenders combined with the central axis of foreign players N'Gadeu and Amadou to layer blocking, compress the opponent's penetration space, and specifically limit Rongcheng's flank crosses and midfield linkage. In attack, he kept only foreign striker Dima as a counterattacking focal point, exploiting the space left behind when the opponent pushed forward to launch quick counterattacks. This pragmatic tactical setup allowed the weaker Tonglianglong to withstand over 70% of the opponent's high-pressure possession in the first half. Trailing only 0-2 at halftime, they avoided a heavy defeat, setting the stage for a comeback in the second half. In the second half, Tonglianglong used their superior fitness to increase the tempo. As the opponent's energy waned, they launched multiple counterattacks through Dima, who eventually scored twice, and Kenpano added another goal, resulting in a 3-3 draw.

In the second leg away from home, Chongqing Tonglianglong's personnel problems were even more severe. With N'Gadeu suspended, Liu Jianye could only field a starting lineup containing four U21 players, two of whom were making their first CSL starts. This time, Liu Jianye adopted an even lower posture, placing Kenpano and Xiang Yuwang on the bench. Like in the first leg, Liu Jianye believed that as long as they were not blown away in the first half, they would have a chance in the second.

The match unfolded exactly as he predicted. Even with deep defending, Felipe still managed to score using his strong individual ability. In the final period of the first half, Chengdu Rongcheng launched a fierce attack, having learned from the first leg and hoping to build on their lead to secure the win. Tonglianglong could barely organize any counterattacks, but defensively they were very attentive to covering and supporting each other. At halftime, Rongcheng had not extended their lead, preserving Tonglianglong's chance to earn points. The pace changed in the second half, and just three minutes in, Chongqing Tonglianglong equalized.

The young defensive line performed excellently

In the two tough matches against Chengdu Rongcheng, Liu Jianye's highly targeted tactical arrangements were key to earning points, and his flexible use of personnel and in-game adjustments also played a crucial role.

In the first leg, both sides fielded their strongest lineups. Liu Jianye's key change came in the 58th minute when he replaced Zhang Yingkai with Wu Yuxi, removing a defender and adding an attacker to speed up the pace in the second half and disrupt the opponent's rhythm. After coming on, Wu Yuxi used his speed and agile dribbling to repeatedly break through on the wing, constantly challenging the opponent's defense and delivering several precise crosses, which revitalized the team's left-side attack and also provided an assist to Dima.

In the second leg, with N'Gadeu suspended due to a red card, Liu Jianye boldly gave a start to 19-year-old Yue Ruijie. Liu Jianye had long planned to give Yue Ruijie game time, originally intending to wait until the team was completely safe from relegation. However, N'Gadeu's red card in the previous round brought Yue Ruijie's opportunity forward. For the high-pressure Sichuan-Chongqing derby, Liu Jianye chose to pair Yue Ruijie with the even younger Liu Jiale on the defensive line, and both completed their tasks brilliantly. Yue Ruijie made 12 clearances in the match, becoming the youngest player in CSL history to record at least 10 clearances in a single game.

Three minutes into the second half, a throw-in from Zhang Yingkai became the key to breaking the deadlock for Tonglianglong. Many might see it as luck or coincidence, but only the Tonglianglong players knew that various throw-in and set-piece routines were a regular part of their daily training.

In this match, the average age of Chengdu Rongcheng's starting lineup was about seven years older than that of Chongqing Tonglianglong. This was also one of the factors Liu Jianye considered when designing his tactics. As long as they could hold out in the first half, they would have a fitness advantage in the second half, using the energy and passion of young players to attack the opponent's tiring defense. The outcome proved that his "clever plan" had indeed paid off.