Guangzhou Evergrande have suffered a major setback in their bid to avoid relegation from the Chinese Super League (CSL). In a closely contested match against Beijing Guoan on Sunday, the defending champions were held to a 1-1 draw, leaving them just two points clear of the bottom three teams.
The loss was a significant blow for Guangzhou, who had been one of the most consistent sides in the league this season. The club's manager, Simeone Giraldo, has admitted that the defeat will be a difficult pill to swallow, but he is determined to turn things around and secure his side's survival.
"It's always tough when you lose a game like this," Giraldo said after the match. "But we'll take it as motivation and work hard to get back to our best form."
Despite the setback, Guangzhou still have a chance to stay up. They need to win their remaining four matches and hope that other teams falter. However, they face a tough task given their poor away record in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, the relegation battle remains tight, with several teams vying for the final two spots in the CSL. It looks like another year of battling for survival will be ahead for many clubs in China's top flight.