Belgium winger Yannick Carrasco, Portugal centre-back Jose Fonte – who gave away a penalty – and Argentina attacking midfielder Nico Gaitan all endured miserable debuts as promoted Dalian Yifang marked their entrance to the Chinese Super League with an 8-0 hammering by expected title challengers Shanghai SIPG, for whom Brazil superstar Oscar and prolific China winger Wu Lei both got hat-tricks.

Carrasco, 24, became the headline recruit of the winter window in China when he and Gaitan were bought from Atletico Madrid on Monday. This duo, plus ex-West Ham defender Fonte, all started at Shanghai Stadium as last term’s runners-up ran rampant on Saturday in their opening fixture of 2018.

Ex-Chelsea playmaker Oscar plundered the opener in the first minute – and it only got worse from there for the new boys. Brazil forward Hulk struck from 12 yards after he was fouled by Fonte and substitute Lu Wenjun also got on the score sheet to gift new Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira a dream top-flight bow.

The result marked a huge comedown for the ex-Atleti pair, who were challenging for La Liga glory prior to their big-money switches to the Far East.

They both completed 90 sorry minutes. Fonte, 34, was taken out of his misery with less than 10 minutes to go.