Complex sentence: The gap between the two clubs was tiny and neither could afford slip-ups, although Shandong Luneng and Beijing Hyundai, who were also within striking distance, were eyeing their opponents' performances closely.
Split into simpler sentences: The gap between the two clubs was tiny and neither could afford slip-ups. Meanwhile, Shandong Luneng and Beijing Hyundai, who were also within striking distance, were eyeing their opponents' performances closely.