Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Dalian Sports Center Stadium , Dalian
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Dalian Huayi vs Chongqing Tongliang Long Match Preview - Oct 18, 2025

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There’s a certain electricity in the air as Dalian Huayi prepares to host Chongqing Tongliang Long at the imposing Dalian Sports Center Stadium on October 18—an encounter that isn’t just a top-of-the-table clash, but one that will reverberate across the landscape of League One. For Dalian Huayi, eighth place might sound like the role of a spoiler, but peel back the layers and you realize they’re chasing something far greater: credibility, momentum, and a chance to rattle the league’s established order. For Chongqing Tongliang Long, second in the standings and hunting the leaders, this is about sending a statement—one that says the championship race is alive and well, and they intend to be at the front of it come season’s end.

If there’s an edge to the emotion swirling around this match, it’s because both sides arrive with storylines that tug in different directions. Dalian Huayi have been a study in inconsistency. Their last five matches are a patchwork quilt of disappointment and hope: winless in their last three, with the attack sputtering (just four goals in those fixtures), and a defense that seems to leak goals at the worst possible moments. Those two most recent losses—to Shanghai Jiading and Dongguan United—have left the faithful restless, with the narratives swirling about whether this side can summon a backbone when it matters most.

But then, there’s the Mushekwi factor. At times, Nyasha Mushekwi has looked like a one-man salvation project for Dalian. Two goals in the 3-1 win over Shenzhen Juniors, another in the 1-1 draw with Shenyang Urban—when he’s on song, Huayi have a puncher’s chance against anyone. The challenge? The supporting cast around him hasn’t matched his drive or finishing instincts. The midfield has struggled for fluency, and the wing play hasn’t created the overloads or service he thrives on. If Dalian are to pull off the upset, they’ll need Mushekwi at his most clinical, but equally, someone else must step out of the shadows and share the burden.

Meanwhile, Chongqing Tongliang Long enter the fray as a team rediscovering its swagger when it matters most. After a turbulent run of three consecutive losses—a stretch where their attack failed to fire and morale wobbled—they’ve responded exactly how championship chasers should: with back-to-back wins against Dongguan United and Guangxi Baoyun. The goals have been shared, the tempo has improved, and crucially, the defensive focus has sharpened. For a side that averages just 0.4 goals conceded per game in the last 10, this new-found resilience is no accident. Management made tactical tweaks, shoring up the space in front of the back four and asking for more ball retention through midfield. The result? Chongqing are no longer conceding cheap possession, and their transitions have become faster and more ruthless.

Key to all of this has been the engine room battle. Chongqing’s midfield maestro, whose vision and range of passing connect defense to attack, will look to dictate the tempo from the first whistle. He’s up against a Dalian central unit that’s been functional, but rarely dominant. Sources tell me Dalian may opt for a more compact shape, aiming to congest the middle and force Chongqing wide—an approach that worked for teams that have recently frustrated the title contenders. The tactical chess match will hinge on who blinks first: does Dalian press shockingly high, or sit in a disciplined block and wait for mistakes?

Don’t underestimate the intangibles either. The Dalian Sports Center Stadium is a cauldron when the crowd senses urgency, and Chongqing’s away record hasn’t always held up under hostile atmospheres. There’s been a tendency for them to start slowly, especially when pressed by aggressive hosts. Yet, if they weather the early storm, they have the firepower and tactical composure to take the sting out of the game and impose their will—especially late, when matches are so often decided in the second half.

The individual battles will keep the analysts talking for weeks. Mushekwi versus Chongqing’s veteran center back is a collision between raw physicality and tactical experience. Out wide, Dalian’s fullbacks—so often a weak link—will have to cope with the vertical runs and speed Chongqing brings from the flanks. In goal, watch for a potential star turn from Chongqing’s keeper, who’s quietly put together a string of match-saving performances.

The stakes? Massive. Dalian are desperate to prove they can climb into the upper tier, using this match as a springboard. Chongqing, for all their recent upturn, know a slip here could leave them chasing for the rest of the campaign—especially with the league leaders not dropping points. Lose, and the questions about their title mettle won’t just return; they’ll come roaring with a vengeance.

Here’s where this rolls into my firmest belief: if Dalian Huayi can disrupt Chongqing’s rhythm in midfield and get Mushekwi running at defenders early, this game could flip the script and deliver the upset everyone’s secretly hoping for. But if Chongqing settles into their passing carousel and stretches the field, they have the depth, discipline, and decisive edge needed to grind out a vital win.

One thing’s certain—this isn’t just another date on the League One calendar. It’s a crossroads: for Dalian, a shot at rewriting their season’s narrative; for Chongqing, a test of their championship credentials. The only guarantee is drama, and as the city of Dalian braces for 90 minutes of high-stakes football, you get the sense this match won’t just be remembered for who won, but for who rose—or fell—when the pressure was at its peak.

Team Lineups

Lineups post 1 hour prior to kickoff.