Before Round 6 of V-League: The intense showdown between Ninh Binh and Viettel, a nail-biting battle at the bottom of the table

Round 6 of the V-League is expected to be highly thrilling, with both the championship contenders and the lower-ranked teams entering the matches under significant pressure.

SHB Da Nang vs Hanoi FC (October 1, Hoa Xuan Stadium)

Both teams have 5 points but are in very different situations. For SHB Da Nang, the goal is to carefully gather every point to strengthen their fight against relegation. Meanwhile, Hanoi FC — a top contender — had a disappointing start. However, their 2-1 victory over Da Thanh Hoa in Round 5 has eased some pressure on Coach Bandovic’s squad, though they still need 3 more points to fully bounce back. The Han River team is in good spirits after remaining unbeaten in their last two away games; can they pull off another surprise?

Ninh Binh FC vs The Cong Viettel (October 2, Ninh Binh Stadium)

This is definitely the highlight match of the round. NBFC (13 points) and TCVT (11 points) are both unbeaten and making strong strides in the title race. Notably, this game marks the reunion of Nguyen Hoang Duc with his former club Viettel right at Ninh Binh’s home ground. NBFC has won both home matches so far, but a real challenge awaits. Under Coach Popov, TCVT has become increasingly solid, recently beating Ha Long Ha Tinh 2-0. It’s a 50-50 encounter where a single moment of brilliance could decide the outcome.

Dong A Thanh Hoa vs Becamex Binh Duong (October 2, Thanh Hoa Stadium)

This match is a “do or die” for both teams at the bottom of the table. Dong A Thanh Hoa (2 points) is still waiting for their first win but has shown signs of improvement recently: drawing with Hai Phong and narrowly losing to Hanoi FC. On the other hand, Becamex Binh Duong (3 points) is in crisis with four consecutive losses and recently replaced Coach Nguyen Anh Duc with Dang Tran Chinh. With home advantage, the Thanh Hoa team has a strong chance to break their losing streak.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai vs Song Lam Nghe An (October 3, Pleiku Stadium)

Both teams are struggling near the bottom. HAGL (2 points) has yet to win but has shown resilience in their last three away games. Back in Pleiku, they aim to secure 3 points against SLNA, which has just changed coaches — Nguyen Huy Hoang acting temporarily after Phan Nhu Thuat’s departure. This match is expected to be physical and fiercely contested, as neither side can afford a loss.

Hong Linh Ha Tinh vs PVF-CAND (October 3, Ha Tinh Stadium)

HLHT (7 points) has lost some of its strength compared to last season but remains a tough opponent at home. Meanwhile, PVF-CAND — a newcomer to the league — has shown toughness, losing only 2 out of 5 matches. The visitors aim for a positive result, but earning points at the “fiery” Ha Tinh stadium will certainly be challenging.