**Qingdao Hainiu sits firmly at the bottom of the 2026 Chinese Super League table with just 14 points from 25 matches and a -18 goal difference, while Wuhan Three Towns (19 points from 23 games) and Tianjin Jinmen Tiger (19 points from 24 games, after deductions) occupy the next positions.** Multiple clubs face points penalties imposed by the Chinese Football Association for prior violations, further shaping the lower table. The bottom two teams face automatic relegation to China League One at season’s end. With roughly five rounds remaining after late August fixtures, Qingdao Hainiu’s prolonged poor form and defensive vulnerabilities leave it with the slimmest realistic survival prospects, while the cluster of teams on 19–27 points creates a tight battle for the second relegation spot. Recent results, including heavy defeats and limited wins for the bottom sides, continue to reinforce trader focus on these clubs’ remaining schedule difficulty and head-to-head outcomes.