Before Round 7 of the V-League: The spotlight is on the capital!

All the key matches of Round 7 in the V-League will be held at Hang Day Stadium.

At Vinh Stadium, SLNA (5 points) will face the title contender CAHN (13 points, currently 2nd in the standings). This will also mark the debut of the new head coach Van Sy Son (replacing coach Phan Nhu Thuat), but securing points against CAHN has been a tough challenge in recent seasons due to the clear difference in squad strength between the two teams.

Similarly, CAHN’s counterpart representing Vietnamese football in the AFC Cup 2, reigning champion Thep Xanh Nam Dinh (7 points), is determined to win against Becamex TPHCM (4 points). However, coach Vu Hong Viet and the Nam Dinh coaching staff — champions of V.League 2 for two consecutive seasons — have yet to find the most effective solution amid many key players being injured or experiencing a dip in form.

As mentioned, the main focus of this round is at Hang Day Stadium, where Hanoi FC (8 points) will face the league leaders Ninh Binh FC (14 points). For the home team, this will be the debut of the new coach Harry Kewell — an Australian football legend who once had brilliant years with Liverpool in the English Premier League.

Hanoi FC fans are surely eagerly anticipating that the partnership between Hanoi FC and Kewell will be a positive turning point for both the team’s performance and the coaching career of the Australian manager. Another notable figure is Do Hoang Hen — also known as Hendrio — who has recently obtained Vietnamese citizenship, meaning he will play as a “naturalized player” rather than just a foreign player.

At PVF Stadium, the home team PVFCAND (6 points) will definitely aim for a victory against Dong A Thanh Hoa (3 points), currently at the bottom of the table. Their recent streak of three consecutive draws shows that this newcomer can still make a significant impact against similarly matched opponents.

At Lach Tray Stadium, Hai Phong (8 points) will also strive for three points when facing HAGL (3 points). The “mountain town team” has clearly weakened this season in terms of squad strength and has yet to secure a win after six matches. Therefore, many consider HAGL the underdog in this match.

Cong An TPHCM (13 points), currently 3rd in the standings and just one point behind the leader, will be very determined to win against Hong Linh Ha Tinh (8 points). With quality reinforcements and under the leadership of coach Le Huynh Duc, CAHCM has proven themselves as strong contenders, boasting 4 wins, 1 draw, and only 1 loss. With superior strength and home advantage, CAHCM is naturally rated higher.

The latest match of this round will take place at Hang Day Stadium on Monday (October 20) between The Cong Viettel (12 points, currently 4th) and Da Nang (5 points). Under coach Popov’s guidance, Viettel has shown stable performance (being one of the three unbeaten teams after 6 rounds, along with Ninh Binh and CAHN). Therefore, there is no doubt about the home team’s chances of winning in this match where they are considered superior.