Round 12 of the LPBank V-League 2025 - 2026: The decisive turning point

The first match of Round 12 is between Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh and Becamex TP Hồ Chí Minh. However, the most notable game this round is the fierce battle between the two league leaders, Ninh Bình and Công an Hà Nội. The outcome at Hàng Đẫy Stadium is likely to influence the championship race this season.

This showdown allows Công an Hà Nội and Ninh Bình to demonstrate their strength in the title race. It is also regarded as the "early final" of the season.

Ninh Bình is the surprise package of this season. The team from the ancient capital Hoa Lư has been a fascinating phenomenon with impressive form and a sharp, well-organized style of play. In this match, they face Công an Hà Nội, a squad with many stars who have played cohesively for a long time, featuring a controlled, diverse attacking strategy that is carefully crafted and clearly defined.

After 11 rounds, Ninh Bình leads the table with 27 points, 4 points ahead of Công an Hà Nội. However, Ninh Bình has played two more matches than the police team. Therefore, to secure the top spot, Ninh Bình must win this direct confrontation.

Meanwhile, Công an Hà Nội holds 23 points after 11 rounds, maintaining second place. They still have 2 matches in hand and could overtake their rival by winning both. This is a crucial opportunity for coach Mano Polking’s team to stay in the title race, especially given the congested fixtures ahead.

The match features two of the top three highest-scoring teams so far. Ninh Bình currently leads with the most goals scored (26), while Công an Hà Nội has conceded the fewest goals (only 6).

The game draws even more attention as it brings together key players from the U23 national team.

For Công an Hà Nội, the main hope is Nguyễn Đình Bắc, who recently won the U23 Asian Golden Boot. Additionally, the agility of Minh Phúc and Lý Đức will be important weapons for coach Alexandre Polking in pursuit of 3 points to claim the top spot.

On Ninh Bình’s side, the team boasts a very strong midfield featuring Thái Sơn and Văn Thuận.

The direct duel between Đình Bắc’s breakthrough ability and Thái Sơn’s intercepting skills in midfield promises to decide the match’s outcome.

The game is also a contest between two of the best foreign coaches in the V-League today: Alexandre Polking and Gerard Albadalejo.

Công an Hà Nội is considered slightly favored due to the home advantage at Hàng Đẫy and their experience competing on big stages as former champions. However, recently, Hàng Đẫy Stadium has brought lucky outcomes for Ninh Bình. In their last two visits to the capital, Ninh Bình won both times.

Besides the Công an Hà Nội vs. Ninh Bình match, other notable fixtures in Round 12 include SLNA facing Hà Nội FC, Hải Phòng against Thể Công Viettel, and Thanh Hóa hosting Nam Định.

The match between league leaders Ninh Bình and runners-up Công an Hà Nội will take place at 7:15 PM on February 1st.

Round 12 schedule
January 30th
6 PM: Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh - Becamex TP Hồ Chí Minh

January 31st
6 PM: Hải Phòng - Thể Công Viettel
6 PM: Sông Lam Nghệ An - Hà Nội FC

February 1st
5 PM: Hoàng Anh Gia Lai - SHB Đà Nẵng
6 PM: Đông Á Thanh Hóa - Thép Xanh Nam Định
6 PM: PVF-CAND - Công an TP Hồ Chí Minh
7:15 PM: Công an Hà Nội - Ninh Bình