Beijing Guoan’s defensive vulnerabilities were once again exposed in their recent match, where their limited squad depth allowed opponents to easily find breakthroughs. Crickex Login points out that despite previous strong performances, Guoan’s issues on the backline—particularly on the right side—became glaringly obvious. Young defender Zhang Yu was at the heart of the criticism, making a crucial mistake that led directly to a goal, while his pairing with Jiang Tao on the right flank left dangerous gaps for the opposition to exploit.

One major concern lies in the team’s bench structure. In recent rounds, Guoan has rarely included central midfielders among the substitutes. This lack of midfield depth limits tactical flexibility and makes it difficult to respond to situations where extra defensive muscle is needed. Head coach Roger Schmidt is now faced with the challenge of rethinking his rotation strategy. Crickex Login notes that giving chances to fringe players like Lei Tenglong, Lü Peng, Hu Yanqiang, Liu Huan, or Jin Taiyan might offer fresh options and unexpected solutions.

Although most of the attacking pressure came from the left—targeting Li Lei’s zone—the overall defensive line struggled to adapt. Guoan’s unchanged lineup from the previous four rounds meant that only one position was rotated, with Bakambu starting over Soriano. But this limited rotation left little room for in-game tactical adjustments, especially since only one U23 player was in the starting lineup. As a result, Guoan’s substitutions remained predictable, with Yu Dabao the default choice off the bench—energetic but tactically limited.

Despite preparing for Chongqing’s pacy wingers known as “Small and Big Motors,” Guoan found themselves trailing 0-2 just eight minutes into the match, and 1-3 by the 19th. The speed and penetration of Chongqing’s wide players repeatedly punished the gaps between Guoan’s center-backs and full-backs, as well as the space left unguarded between central defenders and holding midfielders. As the second half wore on and fatigue set in, the team barely avoided conceding a fourth goal from a series of rapid counterattacks.

At the post-match press conference, Schmidt admitted that in a high-tempo game like this, defensive precision becomes crucial. While Guoan had shown resilience in earlier matches, their structure fell apart against a side built around relentless wing attacks. The question now looms: what happens when they face even more potent offenses?

If adjustments aren’t made—both in squad planning and in-game management—Beijing Guoan’s defensive flaws could continue to be their Achilles’ heel. As Crickex Login concludes, without better tactical depth and substitution strategy, Guoan may keep giving opponents exactly the opportunities they’re looking for.