Uros Spajic Joins Beijing Guoan Ahead of Intense CSL Derby Against Shanghai Shenhua

Uros Spajic, the newly signed Serbian international, arrived in Shanghai on Tuesday to integrate into Beijing Guoan ahead of their crucial Chinese Super League match against Shanghai Shenhua scheduled for Saturday. Known for its intense rivalry, the contest between these two clubs has a storied history and has been recognized as one of the most emotionally charged matchups in the CSL. Both teams have initiated the 2025 season as serious contenders for the title.

Following the onset of ticket sales on Shenhua's official platform on Monday, the tickets for this derby quickly sold out by Tuesday, with prices ranging from 80 yuan ($11) to 460 yuan. According to an employee of the ticketing service, fans can register for a standby opportunity in case additional tickets become available. The season opener last weekend saw 38,783 spectators in attendance as Shenhua narrowly defeated Changchun 2-1, highlighting the growing interest in this season's matches.

Expectations for attendance at the Guoan and Shenhua match are high, fueled by various compelling narratives, such as the possibility of seeing Chinese naturalized player Serginho on the field. The 29-year-old, originally from Brazil, missed the league’s opening round due to incomplete naturalization paperwork, leaving uncertainty about his participation in this key matchup. His performance is anticipated to be vital, as it may provide essential insights for the Chinese national team's upcoming World Cup Asian qualifiers.

Adding to the intrigue is Li Ke, another Chinese naturalized player who recently transferred from Guoan to Shenhua, marking his first chance to face his former team. Spajic is also a significant addition to the Guoan squad, expected to bolster their defensive lineup after Bai Yang’s red card in the opening game. Guoan is focused on countering Shenhua’s dynamic attacking trio, which registered a notable 24 shots on goal against Changchun.

Additionally, another defender, Wu Shaocong, will potentially partner with Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui in the defensive lineup after joining from the Turkish team Istanbul Basaksehir. Other matches of interest in this round include Shandong's matchup against Dalian and Chengdu hoping for a second consecutive home win against Tianjin. According to CSL data, Shanghai Port and Guoan led the passing accuracy rankings from the first round, with rates of 86.59 percent and 85.45 percent, respectively.