Guangzhou Evergrande players celebrate their victory over Shanghai Shenhua in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, December 1, 2019. /VCG Photo
This year, it all came down to the final day in the Chinese Super League (CSL) as Guangzhou Evergrande and Beijing Guoan - the top two in the league - had the potential to take the title. Evergrande needed a win while Guoan needed a win and also for Evergrande to lose. However, the games unfolded without much drama as Evergrande steamrolled Shanghai Shenhua 3-0 on Sunday afternoon to confirm their record eighth CSL title.
This is their eighth title in nine years, with Shanghai SIPG - this year's third place finalists - in the 2018 season, being the only team to keep the title out of the hands of the Canton side.
In the match at Beijing Workers' Stadium, Shandong Luneng took an early two goal lead, starting with a 15th-minute penalty from Brazilian forward Roger Krug Guedes, and then followed up with a header from former Manchester United player Marouane Fellaini in the 34th minute.
Zhang Yuning of Beijing Guoan dribbles the ball during the CSL match against Shangdong Luneng in Beijing Workers' Stadium, Beijing, December 1, 2019. /VCG Photo
However, Zhang Yuning found the end of a cross from Guoan's Brazilian midfielder Renato Augusto to pull one back in the 43rd minute and got a brace moments later with a penalty almost on the stroke of half time.
It stayed 2-2 until the 90th minute when Wang Ziming of the capital's side scored the winning goal, but it ultimately didn't matter for Beijing. Shandong however dropped a place because of the loss and Jiangsu Suning's 2-0 win over Tianjin Tianhai.
Elsewhere on the final day, last season's champion Shanghai SIPG smashed Shenzhen FC 6-0 to stay in third place and enter the qualifiers for the AFC Champions League.
At the bottom end of the table, Shenzhen FC and Beijing Renhe were relegated to China League 1. In the 2020 season, their replacement will be Qingdao Huanghai and Shijiazhuang Ever Bright.