Round 8 of the V-League 2025/26: Intense and Exciting

Round 8 includes several captivating games at both the top and bottom of the table, indicating many surprises ahead.

The 8th round of the V-League 2025/26 showcases exciting matchups where the leading teams assert their dominance and the lower-ranked squads fight to avoid relegation. All seven matches in this round will utilize VAR technology.

Ninh Binh leads the table with an unbeaten record and a strong squad. Despite limited preparation time, PVFCAND has shown resilience with only two losses and a streak of four consecutive draws. Although considered underdogs, PVFCAND plans to play tightly to secure points. Meanwhile, Ninh Binh is in excellent form with many stars and recently won a dramatic 2-1 victory over Hanoi, demonstrating their superior strength as title contenders.

Meanwhile, Becamex TPHCM enters their match against Hanoi with confidence after a crucial win over Nam Dinh in the previous round. Under new coach Harry Kewell, Hanoi has played an aggressive style, creating numerous chances but lacking finishing precision (losing to Ninh Binh last round). Experts believe if Hanoi sharpens their attack, they can return to the top group.

HAGL sits at the bottom of the table without a single win after seven rounds (3 draws, 4 losses) and is the lowest-scoring team with only one goal. In contrast, Viettel has maintained consistent form with seven unbeaten games (4 wins, 3 draws), boasting the league’s strongest offense (12 goals) and the tightest defense (only 4 conceded). With HAGL struggling, coach Popov’s team aims for their first away victory this season.

Hai Phong and Ha Tinh, ranked 5th and 6th respectively, face off at Lach Tray Stadium. Hai Phong has been formidable, especially at home where they have earned 10 out of 12 possible points (3 wins, 1 draw). Both teams have similar strength, but Hai Phong is favored due to their impressive form and home advantage.

SLNA, coming off a 1-1 draw with CAHN, is slightly favored and targets a full three points as they face Thanh Hoa, who are currently struggling. Thanh Hoa only earned their first away point in round 7. This is a crucial clash between two teams focused on survival.

Defending champions Nam Dinh have no room for error after three consecutive defeats. They must beat SHB Da Nang to keep their hopes alive. Despite losing 1-2 to Viettel last round, SHB Da Nang has shown potential and has reasons to believe they can earn points at the "sacred" Thien Truong stadium.

The highlight match of round 8 recalls the fiery police force derbies of the 1980s and 90s. Both teams have 14 points, but CAHN is rated higher as they have played only six matches and remain unbeaten (4 wins, 2 draws). The home side is considered slightly stronger in this highly anticipated, high-quality contest.