Four wins, four clean sheets, seven goals scored, 12 points accrued and the best-ever start to a Chinese Super League season for a merciless Guangzhou Evergrande side. Life couldn't get any better for the seven-time champions. 

Fabio Cannavaro has been at pains to insist that his new-look team, who underwent a massive overhaul over the winter, are still a work in progress. Yet, more than a month into the new campaign, Evergrande's perfect record remains intact, his players are responding well to his demands for more defensive solidity and each of their victories has been achieved with a quintessential blend of intensity, togetherness, and assurance that they regrettably lost last season.

In a 1-0 victory at Dalian Yifang last Saturday, Evergrande required 80 minutes before scoring via Anderson Talisca. This time, against their city rivals Guangzhou R&F in a much-anticipated derby, only 13 minutes had ticked by. The player who did the trick was again the irrepressible Brazilian.

Evergrande had been the dominant side in the opening stages and deserved the lead. A string of passes led to Paulinho in the middle of the park. Along with the rest of his team-mates, the former Barcelona star has begun the campaign with flying colors, and the pass he made was a delight, effortlessly landing on Talisca's boot. Delightful, too, was the little shimmy that created enough space to get an open shot. A sensational volley followed that gave R&F goalkeeper Cheng Yuelei no chance and the sense was that a goal feast may ensue.

At the break R&F coach Dragan Stojkovic brought on Chen Zhizhao for Huang Zhengyu to inject more energy and pace into his squad. But a rejuvenated Evergrande were stronger than the visitors in every department, with the power and purpose displayed by Paulinho and Huang Bowen in central midfield and the persistence and link-up play of Zhang Xiuwei, Yu Hanchao and Talisca up front particularly impressive. And just after the hour mark Evergrande had their second. 

Lurking in the gaps in the R&F defense, Talisca received Yu's pass on the left side and curled a breathtaking left-footed finish past Cheng that was as venomous as it was accurate, rising at speed into the corner of the net. Cheng, despite being at full stretch, was unable to get a hand to the rocket.

Talisca's importance to Evergrande has grown tremendously following the departure of the striking duo of Alan Carvalho and Ricardo Goulart. And the 25-year-old Brazilian forward, who has netted three times in the new season, proved his worth to Cannavaro with his tireless work rate, clever movement and clinical finishing that suggests he is finally ready to shoulder the main goal-scoring burden on a consistent basis.

"Talisca is unstoppable but I am not surprised. I think he has what it takes to play in the Premier League," observed an admiring Stojkovic after witnessing another Talisca masterclass in China. 

"He is a brilliant striker and I cannot blame my team for conceding two goals. He has a fantastic left foot and there is no doubt that he will score more goals in the future." 

Now only goal difference stands between Evergrande and league leaders Beijing Guoan, who also delivered a clear statement of intent after their fourth-straight league win on Friday. However, it would be wise for everyone at the club to keep their feet on the ground as tougher days lie ahead. 

The crucial win over R&F signals the start of a grueling schedule for Evergrande, who will play 11 matches in 47 days. The congested fixture list will provide another huge test of character for Cannavaro's side but judging by this classy performance, they may have the wherewithal to rise above the challenge again.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Tianjin Tianhai ended their three-game losing streak after a battling goalless draw against Hebei China Fortune. Wuhan Zall's clash with Henan Jianye was postponed just a day before game day due to the poor state of the pitch.