V-League 2025/26: An Unexpected Start

23/09/2025 10:50:00 TrophyTracker

There have been some surprises at the start of the LP Bank V-League 2025/26. However, the current standings and the final positions at the end of the season will differ greatly because there are still 22 rounds ahead, a challenging journey with many expected changes.

Although the surprises at the start of the season are minor, this is the kind of football worth anticipating. This is what makes the V-League less boring. Unfortunately, this season is only just beginning, and while things may appear a certain way now, the road ahead is long and full of changes.

The newcomer Ninh Bình has maintained the form and momentum from their First Division championship into the early matches of the V-League, bringing a fresh vibe. Ho Chi Minh City Police also left some impression with their exciting start. Conversely, Hà Nội FC had a poor start and temporarily fell behind. Still, this is not enough to fully assess each club’s true ability as everything is just starting.

"When will Hà Nội FC return?" is the question experts and fans ask when considering the situation of the former V-League champions. Hà Nội FC has yet to avenge their 0-1 loss to Thể Công Viettel a few days ago, despite having the lead advantage on the new coach’s debut. Nevertheless, in any circumstance, don’t rush to eliminate Hà Nội FC from the championship race because the capital’s team always carries a "championship DNA."

A slow start can happen to Hà Nội FC or any other team in the V-League. The challenge is how to quickly get past this "drowsy" phase. For Hà Nội FC, a comeback is quite possible, definitely so, but first they need to promptly "awaken" the big signings they brought in at the start of the season. Hà Nội FC has won the V-League six times and has experience in long-term competition. Therefore, if Hà Nội FC overcomes this crisis soon and pushes forward in the upcoming rounds, it would not be surprising.

It would be too early to remove Hà Nội FC from the group of title contenders in the LP Bank V-League 2025/26. Photo: Hoàng Linh

Just like the top positions, the bottom of the standings is also tight. This indicates that several teams have not yet adapted to this year’s V-League. Among the bottom group, SHB Đà Nẵng, Thanh Hóa, and HAGL have yet to secure their first win after four rounds. From this start, these teams have shown the weakest performance.

For SHB Đà Nẵng, after a season struggling to avoid relegation, it seems they are retracing an unwanted path. Besides a poor start, the worrying issue for SHB Đà Nẵng now is revealing many limitations that are not easy to fix. From the draw against PVF-CAND, it is evident that poor finishing and chance conversion caused the team to lose points. However, there is still plenty of time for SHB Đà Nẵng to adjust and strengthen, so it’s not a case of "jumping only when the water reaches the feet" like last season.

All of this shows how tough the V-League is. Competing for the championship is hard, and the relegation battle is no easier, so for now, just take things as they come.

The V-League 2025/26 is only at the starting point. Therefore, the outcomes of the first four rounds are just the prelude. Moreover, after reaching halfway, clubs have the right to make changes, so no one can predict what will happen next. The story of Ninh Bình’s transformation after only one season, or a club relocating from one province to another and frequently changing its name, means the upcoming V-League journey is unpredictable.

That is why the current standings are only temporary. The order after round 4 is expected to change, but not drastically. However, it is very likely that in the following rounds, after surprises that thrill fans, contenders will return to their places, while weaker teams will continue fighting to avoid relegation.

The V-League is always fierce and unpredictable, so "only over the long distance do you know the quality of the horse."

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