The first turning point of the V-League 2025/26

30/09/2025 15:40:00 esportapi

Round 5 of the LPBank V-League 2025/26 saw results that created a turning point for the league at both the summit and the bottom of the standings.

Ninh Binh remains undefeated, but their winning streak was stopped at Lach Tray Stadium. Their convincing win over Nam Dinh had boosted the momentum of newcomer Ninh Binh before their away game against Hai Phong.

Ninh Binh faces the harshness of the V-League

Starting like a "fairy tale," the Hoa Lu ancient capital team aimed for their fifth win to break away while Nam Dinh and CAHN had to battle each other at Thien Truong. But "life is not a dream" because playing at Lach Tray has never been easy for any V-League team.

This time is no different; Hai Phong may have weakened but still have players full of character and a crafty style under coach Chu Dinh Nghiem.

After round 5, despite only gaining 1 point against Hai Phong, Ninh Binh still holds the top position with 13 points. With the same points, CAHN and Ho Chi Minh City Police rank below due to worse goal difference. Although unbeaten, dropping points to Hai Phong warns Ninh Binh that the V-League is always fierce and unpredictable. Their path cannot be as straightforward as planned. What happened at Lach Tray served as a quality test, reminding them to stay grounded.

Currently, Ninh Binh shows they are "strong because of resources and bold because of investment." Clearly, the quality of players under coach Gerard Albadalejo is among the V-League's stars. The high-profile signings are proving very effective this season, especially the attack.

However, Ninh Binh needs more elements from a distinctive playing style and composure in crucial matches. In summary, to compete fairly for the championship, Nam Dinh must demonstrate their "royal" qualities in upcoming games.

While Ninh Binh’s impressive start is undeniable, the road to the final goal is long ahead. After experiencing the intense atmosphere of the "Lach Tray furnace," Ninh Binh will face Viettel Army and Hanoi FC, two V-League giants, in rounds 6 and 7 consecutively. Overcoming such tough challenges will truly test Ninh Binh’s quality and ambition.

Being stopped by Hai Phong (in white) at Lach Tray shows that Ninh Binh (in dark kits) still need to work hard if they aim to win the V-League. Photo: Nhat Anh

"Crowded" lower half of the standings

While the top half sees CAHN and Ho Chi Minh City Police pressing Ninh Binh, below, Hanoi FC and SHB Da Nang have secured timely "relief" wins.

The victories of Hanoi FC and SHB Da Nang came from remarkable comebacks. Meanwhile, Thanh Hoa and HAGL have yet to find their first win this season. At the bottom, some teams have temporarily escaped relegation, while others have dropped further down.

Hanoi FC managed an important win to avoid falling too far behind. Still in the lower half, it wouldn’t be surprising if Hanoi FC rises in the coming rounds. The capital club now has less pressure, focusing solely on the V-League.

Coach Adachi Yusuke appears to be a skilled "firefighter," possibly presenting a very exciting new version of Hanoi FC.

Besides SHB Da Nang, Hanoi FC, and PVF-CAND all having 5 points, teams like SLNA, Becamex Ho Chi Minh City, HAGL, and Thanh Hoa are tightly packed. Notably, the gap between last-placed Thanh Hoa and 8th place SHB Da Nang is only 3 points.

Therefore, a single win or loss could shuffle positions among these teams. The relegation battle remains fierce with unpredictable changes.

Every team understands that the season is long and demanding, so maintaining fitness and honing skills must be continuous. The rest of the season will be where teams fully show their qualities for the competition.

The V-League is always intense and unpredictable. With contrasting extremes between the top and bottom groups, the V-League promises exciting and unforeseeable developments ahead.

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