Breathtaking relegation race in V-League 2024 - 2025: Which team is in danger?

V-League and the RACE FOR SURVIVAL

Among the 7 clubs racing to avoid relegation, 5 teams have just achieved results ranging from a draw to a win in round 18 of the V-League.

Hai Phong FC held former champions Ha Noi to a 0-0 draw at Lach Tray Stadium, with a tight defense and sharp counterattacks. SLNA also drew 1-1, even almost beating Thanh Hoa FC despite playing away. Ho Chi Minh City FC also held reigning champions Nam Dinh at Thien Truong Stadium in a match where, despite having a weaker squad, coach Phung Thanh Phuong and his team played with all they had to accumulate each point. The bottom team Da Nang no longer had much hope of staying in the league, but still snatched 1 point from the home team Binh Duong.

HAGL (left) cannot be assured of staying in the league

PHOTO: MINH TU

However, the most notable thing in this round is the 2-1 victory of Binh Dinh Club at Quang Nam Stadium. Before the match at Tam Ky Stadium, Binh Dinh team went through a series of 9 matches without a win (2 draws, 7 losses). If they continue to lose to Quang Nam, coach Bui Doan Quang Huy and his team will hardly avoid the prospect of relegation, as they are 4 points behind SLNA, as well as 7-8 points behind the group above. However, the resilient performance of the martial arts team has made the relegation race "hot" again. The spirit of "playing as much as you can" that helped Binh Dinh finish second last season, now rises at the right time to help Mac Hong Quan and his teammates defeat the home team Quang Nam.

For teams struggling to stay in the league, a win is enough to relieve their psychological stress. Binh Dinh Club has seen hope of rising up, when coach Quang Huy still has veterans with enough courage and experience such as Cao Van Trien, Duong Van Khoa or Hong Quan to rely on. In the next 8 matches, Binh Dinh Club will compete with direct relegation opponents such as Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City or HAGL. If they win the crucial matches, the big road will open. Because the gap between Binh Dinh and the safe group is now only 2 points.

Former coach Velizar Popov once said that V-League is a harsh tournament, where every team can... win against each other, even though they are in trouble. The instability of V-League also lies in the fact that teams that were flying high last season are now in free fall. The case of the current runner-up Binh Dinh is an example. Or Hai Phong Club, which finished second in 2022, is now struggling to compete for relegation. Despite winning 4 out of the last 7 matches, coach Chu Dinh Nghiem's ​​students are still not safe. Hai Phong Club is only 5 points ahead of Binh Dinh's play-off position, and if they lose the next match in Quy Nhon, the port city team will have their opponent breathing down their neck. Hai Phong Club's advantage is that they are well-organized, have a spirit of solidarity and are coached by an experienced strategist like Mr. Chu Dinh Nghiem. However, the thin force (similar to the cases of Da Nang and Binh Dinh) means that Hai Phong Club may have to race to the final rounds.

Similarly, Ho Chi Minh City FC finished in the top 4 last season, but with a limited squad, the "Red Battleship" fell behind when the excitement passed. Ho Chi Minh City FC's weakness is poor away form, with their last away win coming 7 months ago. However, the 1-1 draw against Nam Dinh could be the springboard for the Southern representative to wake up from the wall.

HARD TO GUESS

The gap between the 8th place team (HAGL) and the play-off position (Binh Dinh) is only 5 points. That number is fragile, because in the last 8 rounds, there will be many internal matches between the relegation group.

Last season, HAGL and SLNA had to wait until the last round to stay in the league, while Ha Tinh Club (the team with the biggest advantage) was held back by Thanh Hoa and had to play a play-off. Most of the past seasons have had the same scenario: the direct relegation spot was decided early, but the play-off spot was a nerve-wracking affair until the last second. Especially when the first-class teams with the chance to play-off like Binh Phuoc and PVF-CAND are all very hungry for promotion, meaning the pressure on the 13th team in the V-League is even greater.

The key to keeping teams in the league lies in strategy and long-term experience. For clubs with limited resources like HAGL, Binh Dinh or Hai Phong, they must know how to choose their matches, wisely choose the right time to exert their strength, instead of going all out in every match. They must have a reasonable strategy to survive. The talent of the coaches will bring the teams the opportunity to survive the big waves.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dua-tru-hang-nghet-tho-ov-league-2024-2025-doi-nao-lam-nguy-185250415200804505.htm