The tenth match week of the Guangdong Super League: The playoff positioning battle fully kicks off, with the Guangzhou-Foshan derby drawing the most attention.

Beginning with the tenth match week, the 10 fixtures in the East and West Zones of the Guangdong Super League were set to start at the same time on July 18. Nevertheless, the Chaozhou versus Shenzhen game was moved to 16:00 on that day, with the other nine matches taking place at 19:30. For the first time, VAR (Video Assistant Referee) will cover all 10 matches, which can improve the precision of calls and create a better environment for fair play.

According to the Guangdong Super League promotion rules, the top two teams from each zone advance directly to the quarterfinals, while the 3rd to 6th place teams compete in a two-legged home-and-away playoff for the remaining four quarterfinal spots. In the East Zone, Shenzhen, Meizhou, and Qingyuan have already secured playoff berths, with Shenzhen earning a direct spot. In the West Zone, Zhanjiang, Guangzhou, and Foshan have clinched playoff qualifications, but the two direct advancement slots are still undecided. Additionally, Chaozhou has a bye in the next round and is mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.

In the East Zone, aside from the Chaozhou vs. Shenzhen game, the other four matches are directly related to the playoff race. Particularly, the "Chaoshan Derby" between Jieyang (6th place) and Shanwei (5th place) is a crucial "six-point battle" that could determine both teams' playoff fate. In the West Zone, the most anticipated match is the "Guangzhou-Foshan Derby" for the second spot in the direct playoff quarterfinal berth.

The most eye-catching positioning battle in the East Zone this week is also the sixth "Chaoshan Derby" of the Guangdong Super League season. Both teams have 10 points, with Shanwei ranking 5th on goal difference and Jieyang 6th. The winner will lead the opponent by 3 points and eliminate one playoff rival head-to-head, highlighting the importance of the match. Shanwei surprisingly drew 1-1 at home against Meizhou last round, boosting team morale. They have a record of 3 draws and 1 loss in 4 away games, not winning but only losing once. Jieyang has 1 win and 3 losses at home in 4 matches, scoring only 3 goals, and even suffered a shocking loss to bottom-placed Chaozhou. In this crucial East Zone playoff positioning battle, both teams are evenly matched, and any outcome is possible.

If Meizhou defeats Shaoguan, they will secure the other direct playoff spot after Shenzhen, and the team is full of confidence. Meizhou has a strong attack, ranking second in the Guangdong Super League in goals scored (20), trailing only Shenzhen (22). Shaoguan has conceded only 9 goals in 8 matches, showing solid defense. In the 7th round, they narrowly lost 0-1 at home to the most potent attack of Shenzhen. If they lose this match, they will be eliminated from playoff contention one round early.

This is Meizhou's last regular-season home game and the sixth "Hakka Derby" of the Guangdong Super League. Meizhou has launched a series of activities called "Follow the Tour to Travel Meizhou," centered around Zeng Xianzi Sports Stadium and Wuhua County Olympic Sports Center. Various counties (cities, districts) have set up "second home venues" in city squares, broadcasting the crucial Guangdong Super League match on big screens. The venues integrate intangible cultural heritage performances, specialty dining, and local product exhibitions, allowing fans to experience the thrill of the playoff battle while enjoying a one-stop experience of watching, playing, and shopping.

Last round, Qingyuan defeated Dongguan away, securing a playoff spot while narrowing the gap with second-placed Meizhou. In this home match against Heyuan, led by female coach Zhao Xindi, they must take all three points while hoping Meizhou fails to beat Shaoguan at home to keep their direct promotion hopes alive. Qingyuan's attack ranks third in the East Zone, and their home form is relatively steady. A win would put Qingyuan in a "third-place-with-eyes-on-second" position; even if they finish third, they would have the advantage of playing the second leg at home in the playoff qualifier.

However, the young Qingyuan team has recently struggled offensively, scoring only 2 goals in their last three games and just 4 goals in their previous four home matches. Heyuan should not be underestimated on the road, as they are typical "away specialists" with a 2-2 away record, and they could spring a surprise.

The 14th "Chaozhou-Hakka Derby" of the Guangdong Super League season saw Huizhou win 2-1 away at Shaoguan last round, earning their first win of the season and boosting team morale. Returning home to face Shantou, who are three points ahead, a win would keep their playoff hopes alive.

This is Huizhou's last regular-season home match in the Guangdong Super League. The organizing committee has prepared a rich array of performances, on-site raffles, and cultural tourism projects to encourage fans to enter the stadium and cheer for the home team, striving for a playoff comeback miracle.

Huizhou has prepared a "tough army" fan section of up to 1,000 people for this match, with a specially added women's fan section to create an unprecedented home atmosphere. A red-themed situational drama "The Great Rescue of the East River Column" will be performed on the field, recreating the historic feat of the East River Column secretly rescuing cultural figures. This cross-border integration of "sports + red culture" is a highlight. The Huizhou Aiyue Children's Choir and the Miaoyin Angel Children's Choir will also warm up the crowd with a medley of children's songs.

Inside the stadium, there will be raffle giveaways including a TCL 98-inch color TV, Huidong "Xili" fruit vinegar, star-signed footballs, "ILoveHZ - Little Happiness" cultural tourism blind boxes, Bingshuang soda drinks, Getianxian ginger tea, and Shanniu Jia egg rolls, among other top Huizhou specialties. Outside, the popular Guangdong Super League carnival will continue, with a special zone set up at the East Gate Plaza gathering Huizhou intangible cultural heritage snacks. Combined with Huizhou's ongoing "Ticket Consumption Activities," fans can enjoy Huizhou's food and scenery while cheering for the home team's playoff push.

Shenzhen has already secured the direct qualification spot in the East Zone, while Chaozhou is out of playoff contention.

In this match, Shenzhen aims to compete for the regular-season golden boot. Chen Zhixuan, Huang Junxiong, and Fan Jialin have each scored 4 goals, just one behind Zhanjiang's Li Guo, who leads the scoring chart. A win would also allow Shenzhen to lock in the top spot in the East Zone regular season standings, providing a perfect finish to their season. Chaozhou, in their last regular-season home game, continues to promote the "Friendship and Flavor·Chaoshan Fireworks" regional cultural tourism IP. Inside the stadium, there will be Yingge dance and Chaoshan opera performances, while outside, there will be Chaozhou Paifang Street snacks, Gongfu tea, and Qiaopi cultural exhibitions.

The most anticipated match in the West Zone is the derby between two teams tied on 14 points. The winner will secure a direct playoff berth. Guangzhou was originally in the top tier with Zhanjiang and was a hot favorite for the regular-season championship. However, they suffered a shock 0-1 loss to Yunfu and were held to a 1-1 draw away at Zhaoqing in the last two rounds, allowing Foshan to quickly catch up in points. If Foshan can hold Guangzhou this round, they are likely to take all three points in the final round away at weak Zhongshan, while Guangzhou faces a tough away trip to league leaders Zhanjiang, making the situation more favorable for Foshan.

Last weekend, Guangzhou held a fan meeting at the Pearl River Party Pier in the form of a music festival, featuring a special Guangdong Super League jersey cultural and creative zone, warming up for the weekend's Guangzhou-Foshan derby. The "Happy Tour of Huacheng·Enjoy Summer in 2026" summer tourism campaign launched by Guangzhou includes 20 boutique routes, one of which highlights Yuexiu Mountain Stadium combined with intangible cultural heritage performances and surrounding cultural and creative products, as well as Lingnan cuisine, playing an important role.

Zhanjiang sits at the top of the West Zone. If they beat Zhaoqing in this match, they will secure a direct qualification spot and could even clinch the West Zone regular-season title. Zhanjiang has been impressive at home, with 2 wins and 1 draw in 3 home matches, only being held to a goalless draw by Foshan in the opening round. Zhanjiang is strong both offensively and defensively, scoring the most goals in the West Zone (16) and conceding the fewest (3, tied with others). Zhaoqing, in contrast, has lost all their away games and must make changes to get points.

This match holds special significance for Zhanjiang. Their three home games so far have attracted the top three highest attendances in the Guangdong Super League, with an average of over 30,000 spectators, peaking at 32,600. Zhanjiang aims to claim the top four single-game attendance records in the league and set a new mark. To encourage the team to achieve further success, the Zhanjiang Military Expo Park specially invited Zhanjiang team members to visit the park the day after the match to watch "Sea Dragon," tour warships, ride on the White Dolphin cruise, and enjoy the charm of the military port.

A key positioning battle in the West Zone sees both teams tied on 7 points, with Yangjiang ranked 6th on goal difference and Jiangmen 7th. Jiangmen has conceded 12 goals, twice as many as away team Yangjiang, raising defensive concerns. Yangjiang's Lin Zitao has scored 4 goals, accounting for all of his team's goals, while Jiangmen has managed only 6 goals as a team. Jiangmen may not be confident enough to secure a win in this crucial playoff positioning match at home.

To encourage fans to attend and cheer, the Jiangmen Changxing platform has launched a raffle for match tickets. Jiangmen has also introduced "Cool and Refreshing" and "Mountain Forest Breeze Tour" summer escape routes, combining the popularity of the Guangdong Super League home matches to create a grand carnival for the last regular-season home game.

Yunfu and Zhongshan are both tied on 6 points, just one point behind the playoff zone, still holding hope for a comeback. Yunfu caused an upset by beating Guangzhou 1-0 away in the 6th round, securing their first win of the season, but then lost 1-3 away to Foshan, showing limited strength. Yunfu's attack is weak, scoring only 4 goals in 7 matches, and they have yet to win at home (1 draw and 2 losses), raising doubts about whether they can claim their first home victory in this match.

Zhongshan's offensive and defensive performances are only slightly better than Yunfu's, making the two teams evenly matched. This game is also dubbed the "West Guangdong Tongue Derby," with Yunfu's Wenshi Chinese local chicken facing off against Zhongshan's Shiqi squab pigeon. Beyond the match, fans can enjoy local delicacies in Yunfu.

Zhuhai is the only team in the Guangdong Super League that has not yet won a game. Maoming currently sits 5th in the West Zone with 8 points. A home win in this match would allow them to keep ahead of main rivals Yangjiang, Jiangmen, Zhongshan, and Yunfu, taking control of their playoff destiny.

In contrast, Zhuhai has scored only 3 goals in their first 7 matches, the fewest in the Guangdong Super League. Playing away at the most popular stadium in West Guangdong, the challenge of securing their first win is immense. However, after drawing 1-1 at home against league leaders Zhanjiang last round, the team's morale has soared, which will certainly help them in their quest for points.