Former Barcelona midfielder Paulinho scored twice and Anderson Talisca added another on Wednesday night to put Guangzhou Evergrande one step away from an eighth Chinese Super League title as a 3-1 win over Hebei CFFC pushed the powerhouse two points clear at the top. 

Fabio Cannavaro's side need only a draw in their final game against Shanghai Shenhua on Sunday to wrest the league crown back from defending champions Shanghai SIPG, whose title hopes were dashed after they were held to a 1-1 stalemate by already-relegated Beijing Renhe. 

Meanwhile, Cedric Bakambu, Renato Augusto and Zhang Yuning all got on the score sheet as Beijing Guoan kept the pressure on Evergrande with a 4-1 win over Guangzhou R&F. 

The capital side's haul of 67 points have equalled their best CSL points total but to come from behind to clinch the title, they must beat Shandong Luneng, who cruised past Tianjin Teda 3-1, and hope Evergrande lose on the final day. 

Elsewhere, Shanghai Shenhua's poor form shows no sign of ending as they suffered fourth successive loss with a 4-1 defeat to Jiangsu Suning. Wuhan Zall burnished their credentials as the CSL's surprise package after edging Chongqing Siwei 1-0. The promoted side now sit comfortbaly in sixth place. 

Dalian Yifang went down 5-1 away from home to 14th-placed Tianjin Tianhai for their heaviest loss of the season. The result condemned Shenzhen FC to China League One as Roberto Donadoni's team sealed their fate with a 3-3 draw with Henan Jianye.