V-League 2025/26 is starting to differentiate itself

03/11/2025 08:03:00 ScoreStream

The past weekend's round ended with thrilling action at both the top and bottom of the league table. While the leaders are starting to form a "triangular race" among Ninh Bình, CAHN, and Thể Công Viettel, the relegation fight has intensified among six teams: HAGL, PVF CAND, SHB Đà Nẵng, SLNA, Thanh Hoá, and Becamex TP.HCM.

The league leaders Ninh Bình maintain steady performance but have begun to show signs of stagnation. Their 1-1 home draw against Becamex TP.HCM caused coach Gerard Castano’s team to lose two crucial points. After Hoàng Đức opened scoring with a penalty in the first half, Ninh Bình’s defense lost focus, allowing the visiting foreign player Oduenyi to equalize late in the second half. This serves as a warning to the ambitious club that has yet to sustain focus throughout the match.

Ninh Bình currently holds 21 points, just one ahead of CAHN. Coach Alexandre Polking’s team took full advantage of facing a weaker opponent at their home ground Hàng Đẫy to close the gap with the leaders. Their 2-0 win over PVF CAND, thanks to goals from Alan and Đình Tiến, demonstrated CAHN’s consistent form and smooth teamwork.

Alan continues to assert himself as the league’s top striker with 8 goals in 7 matches for CAHN this season, leading the top scorer race. With 20 points, Alexandre Polking’s squad is ready to overtake Ninh Bình at any moment if the leaders slip up.

In third place is Thể Công Viettel. Coach Velizar Popov’s team showed a strong comeback after their defeat in Pleiku. In a late match at Thanh Hoá, Popov’s side won 1-0 thanks to a stunning long-range goal by Đinh Viết Tú. Both Popov and Viết Tú are former members of the Thanh Hoá club. Although they did not dominate the game, Thể Công Viettel managed to secure all three points and solidify third place with 18 points, just 2 behind CAHN.

Additionally, Hải Phòng under coach Chu Đình Nghiêm continued their impressive run with a 2-1 victory over Công an TP.HCM at Thống Nhất stadium, extending their unbeaten streak to five games and moving up to fourth place with 17 points. Hải Phòng showed that Công an TP.HCM still has much to improve if they want to break into the top four. Especially, Hải Phòng’s foreign players have been highly effective, helping the team soar, unlike Công an TP.HCM’s foreign players who have all suffered injuries.

CAHN is applying strong pressure on Ninh Bình in this season’s championship race. Photo: Hoàng Linh

Meanwhile, Hanoi FC remains stuck in crisis after a 1-2 loss to Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh. Under coach Harry Kewell, the capital club has won just once and lost twice in their last three matches. Hanoi FC continues to struggle with organization and defense. With only 11 points, Văn Quyết and his teammates have dropped to 7th place, far below fans’ expectations.

The situation for reigning champions Nam Định is not any better. After a 2-2 draw against bottom-placed HAGL, coach Nguyễn Trung Kiên’s team has only 9 points and has fallen to 8th place. Without quick improvement, Nam Định risks being dragged into the relegation battle.

This season’s relegation fight is probably the most intense in recent years, with six clubs separated by just one point. Becamex TP.HCM (8 points) sits 9th, while HAGL, PVF CAND, SHB Đà Nẵng, SLNA, and Thanh Hoá all have 7 points.

Among them, although HAGL is last, they show signs of revival. Under sporting director Vũ Tiến Thành, the young team from the Central Highlands earned 4 points in their last two matches, including a draw against Nam Định and a win over Thể Công Viettel. Young players like Minh Tâm (2 goals) are demonstrating great potential and strong ambition.

PVF CAND is experiencing a slight crisis after a 0-2 loss to CAHN. Despite having talented young players like Thanh Nhàn, Xuân Bắc, and Hiểu Minh, coach Thạch Bảo Khanh’s team still lacks impact from foreign players and match experience.

Thanh Hoá is struggling with financial difficulties. Despite losing 0-1 to Thể Công Viettel, the fighting spirit of coach Choi Kwon Won’s team is highly praised. Coach Popov believes that with the current squad, his former club will finish in the mid-table by the end of the season.

SHB Đà Nẵng and SLNA continue to be stuck after a 1-1 draw in the "relegation final." The Han River club has been more stable this season but still lacks solidity. Meanwhile, SLNA needs more mental strength to make a breakthrough.

The brightest team at the bottom is Becamex TP.HCM. Since coach Đặng Trần Chỉnh replaced Nguyễn Anh Đức, the club has clearly improved, earning 5 points in the last 4 matches. Becamex TP.HCM only narrowly lost to Hanoi FC. With growing stability, Becamex TP.HCM has a chance to escape the survival battle.

Round 9 also highlighted an off-field issue widely discussed: coach Kim Sang Sik’s remarks about the "45-minute dead ball" in V-League. He said matches are disrupted by too many fouls and time-wasting, causing the tempo to drop. Despite repeated warnings from organizers, this issue has not significantly improved.

Round 9 results

HAGL – Nam Định: 2-2

Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh – Hanoi FC: 2-1

Thanh Hoá – Thể Công Viettel: 0-1

Công an TP.HCM – Hải Phòng: 1-2

Công an Hà Nội – PVF CAND: 2-0

Ninh Bình – Becamex TP.HCM: 1-1

SHB Đà Nẵng – SLNA: 1-1

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