The campaign began amid a disciplinary crackdown, with the Chinese Football Association imposing retrospective sanctions on nine CSL clubs over past misconduct. The clubs started the season with points deductions ranging from five to 10 points.
Chengdu Rongcheng, which was not among the clubs penalized, quickly established itself as a title contender and built a commanding lead.
Dalian Yingbo, meanwhile, were only in their second season in the top flight, having secured promotion in 2024. The club faced a considerable challenge in catching Chengdu, whose advantage over Dalian at one stage reached 18 points.
But the title race took a dramatic turn in the closing weeks.
