In 2016, there was a real buzz around Chinese football. Guangzhou FC, with Paulinho, Ricardo Goulart and Ai Kesen in their side, were fresh off the back of their second AFC Champions League title in three years, while a number of other CSL clubs were acquiring renowned talent from around the globe. 

 

Having finished runners-up in the CSL in just their third season in the top flight, Shanghai Port were already challenging domestically, and they were about to do so on the continent. After scoring the winning goal in the 2015 final, Ai Kesen arrived from Guangzhou, and a 24-year-old Wu Lei headlined the domestic talent in Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side. 

The pair scored seven goals between them as Shanghai won four out of six group stage games to top the standings. Wu was then the hero in the Round of 16, scoring home and away against FC Tokyo, with his stoppage-time winner in the second leg in Shanghai enough to send Port into the quarter-finals at the first time of asking. 

 

Hulk arrived from Zenit Saint Petersburg in the summer months, breaking the Asian transfer record, but the Brazilian forward could do little to prevent a heavy 5-0 loss away to eventual champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. Despite being eliminated, Shanghai had announced themselves as a force to be reckoned with. 

A year later, now under Andre Villas-Boas, Shanghai returned even stronger, shattering the Asian transfer record once more by luring Oscar from Chelsea, while Uzbek midfielder Odil Ahmedov was brought in from FC Krasnodar. On paper, it was shaping up to be among the most exciting teams on the continent, and the early stages of the competition saw them live up to that billing. 

 

Hulk rocketed in a trademark effort from distance as Shanghai opened with a win at FC Seoul before the Brazilian, along with Oscar, Ai Kesen and Wu Lei, were all on the mark in a 5-1 victory against Western Sydney Wanderers. The goals were flowing as 3-2 and 4-2 wins over Urawa Red Diamonds and Seoul in Shanghai secured qualification to the knockout rounds.

 

Hulk scored two and assisted two over the two legs as Shanghai then beat Jiangsu home and away to set up a thrilling quarter-final against Guangzhou. What followed was a contest that will live long in the memory.

There was no shortage of hype around Shanghai ahead of the 2018 campaign as they entered the group stage with another Portuguese tactician, Vitor Pereira, at the helm. And they began in fine fashion, Ai Kesen sealing a 1-0 victory at the home of Japanese champions Kawasaki Frontale.

 

Oscar scored back-to-back braces as Shanghai picked up four points from two home games against Melbourne Victory and 2012 champions Ulsan Hyundai. And when Ai Kesen netted the only goal of the return meeting with Ulsan, the CSL side had all but secured their passage to the next round. 

But without Hulk in the first leg of the last 16, Shanghai were beaten 3-1 away to Kashima Antlers, giving them a mountain to climb at home. The big Brazilian returned to net twice in the second leg, but Shoma Doi’s goal was enough to take Kashima through following a 4-3 aggregate win as the J1 League side went on to be crowned kings of Asia. 

 

It was perhaps Shanghai’s most disappointing showing as the title contenders bowed out early. It was also the last time Hulk, Oscar, Ai Kesen, Wu and Ahmedov would line up together in the AFC Champions League. A first CSL title later that year meant 2018 ended as a huge success, however, with Guangzhou’s seven-year reign finally brought to a close. 

By the time the 2019 campaign rolled round, Wu had departed for RCD Espanyol in Spain, although the overseas stars remained. Hulk secured a late opening-day win over Kawasaki from the spot, yet Shanghai underwhelmed by picking up just three points from their next three games.

 

But after a Hulk brace, which included a stunning solo effort in a 2-2 draw at Kawasaki, Pereira’s team went into their home match against Ulsan with their destiny in their own hands. Oscar scored a hat-trick in a 5-0 win and qualification was secured.

 

It was touch and go in the last 16 against Jeonbuk as Shanghai fell behind in both legs but sealed 1-1 draws each time. They eventually advanced on penalties with Oscar netting the winning spot-kick to send Shanghai through to another date against Urawa. 

Ai Kesen brought the curtain down on his Shanghai career by returning to Guangzhou following the win in Jeonju, with Marko Arnautovic arriving as his replacement in a move that ultimately did not work out. 

 

Shanghai got off to the worst possible start in the quarter-finals, falling two behind inside 30 minutes at home to Urawa, although a pair of Hulk penalties at least saw them avoid defeat.

 

But, without their Brazilian talisman in Japan, for the second time in three years the Chinese side were ousted in Saitama as Wang’s second-half equaliser in a 1-1 draw was not enough to prevent Reds advancing on away goals.

In many ways, the 2019 exit proved to be the end of an era. Hulk and Oscar, joined by Australian Aaron Mooy, were part of the 2020 edition that belatedly got underway in the centralised hub of Qatar after the onset of Covid-19. But it was a campaign that did not go to plan.

 

Hulk’s penalty in a 2-1 win over Jeonbuk proved to be his last goal for the club. Substituted in the next game against Yokohama F. Marinos, the Brazilian’s reaction as he walked off the pitch signalled the beginning of the end of his time at the club. While Shanghai made it to the last 16, defeat to Vissel Kobe confirmed their elimination. 

With Covid-19 impacting the Chinese clubs over the course of the next two years, an understrength Shanghai were beaten in the playoffs by Kaya FC-Iloilo of the Philippines in 2021 and the side was forced to withdraw from the competition prior to the group stage in 2022. 

 

But, ahead of the 2023 edition, Oscar remains at the club and Wu has returned to lead the line following three and a half years in Spain. Under Javier Pereira, they go into the playoff against BG Pathum on top of the CSL by some distance and, while they may not have the same star power as in years gone by, there is still plenty to get excited about ahead of Shanghai’s return.