Hot at both ends of the chart

Nam Dinh Steel Club (in white) is facing a close chase in the championship race. Photo: Lam Thoa

Unpredictable championship race

After round 18 of V.League 2024-2025, the top spot on the rankings has not changed hands, the "power" race seems to have slowed down when all 3 leading teams could not win.

In round 18 of V.League 2024-2025, despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Ho Chi Minh City Club at home, defending champion Nam Dinh Steel Blue still had 35 points and topped the rankings. Meanwhile, Hanoi FC had a goalless draw against Hai Phong FC. In addition, another direct competitor for the championship, The Cong Viettel, was also held to a 2-2 draw by Hong Linh Ha Tinh.

Among the top 4 teams in the V. League, only Hanoi Police Club won in round 18, defeating Hoang Anh Gia Lai with a score of 3-1. This victory gives the police team more hope in the championship race. With 28 points, Hanoi Police surpassed Thanh Hoa to enter the top 4. Coach Polking affirmed that he and his students are determined to solve each match one by one, and of course, they also have to wait for the teams above them to "stumble".

Football commentator Vu Quang Huy commented that the battle for the championship this year will be very unpredictable when Nam Dinh Blue Steel is 4 points ahead of the second-placed team, Hanoi FC. If Nam Dinh stumbles against SHB Da Nang in round 19, the three teams ranked behind, Hanoi FC (31 points), Viettel The Cong (30 points) and Hanoi Police (28 points), can continue to narrow the gap in the race for the championship.

Meanwhile, Nam Dinh Blue Steel Club received bad news about its squad when midfielder Romulo will be absent in round 19 due to suspension. The Brazilian player received a direct red card in the 90+1 minute in the match against Ho Chi Minh City Club. With striker Nguyen Xuan Son still out due to injury, the absence of midfielder Romulo in the next two rounds will certainly be a big loss for the attack of coach Vu Hong Viet's team. However, Nam Dinh Blue Steel has the advantage when in round 19 they will only meet the weakest team in the group, SHB Da Nang.

As for Hanoi Police Club, they will host Ho Chi Minh City at home, while Hanoi FC will visit Binh Duong, The Cong Viettel will meet Thanh Hoa. The opportunity to break through is still there for all 3 teams of the capital.

Quy Nhon Binh Dinh Club (black and blue shirts) is facing difficulties in the relegation race. Photo: Lam Thoa

The difficult race to avoid relegation

Round 19 of the 2024-2025 V-League is considered a pivotal round that can decide the outcome of the season. While the top teams are also "thirsty for points" to compete for the top spot, the race in the bottom group is also becoming more fierce. Just a victory for Binh Dinh Club against Hai Phong FC Song Lam Nghe An to overcome Quang Nam in the "reverse final" can completely make the teams above like Ho Chi Minh City Club fall into the danger zone.

Among the 7 clubs competing to avoid relegation, SHB Da Nang (10 points) is currently at the bottom of the rankings and the chance of competing for a ticket to relegation is not much hope. Despite positive changes and determination to overcome difficulties, the gap of up to 6 points compared to the second-to-last position of Binh Dinh Club makes the chance of the Han River team to stay in the V-League very fragile.

Meanwhile, Binh Dinh Club (16 points) is currently in second to last place. In the previous rounds, Binh Dinh had to go through a series of 9 matches without a win (2 draws, 7 losses). If they continue to lose to Hai Phong FC, coach Bui Doan Quang Huy and his team will find it difficult to avoid the prospect of relegation, as they are 2 points behind Song Lam Nghe An, as well as 7-8 points behind the group above. However, Binh Dinh Club is not without hope as 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 directly with relegation opponents such as SHB Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City or Hoang Anh Gia Lai. 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 (Thanh Hoa Club) 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 current runner-up Binh Dinh is an example. Or Hai Phong FC, which won the runner-up position 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.

Currently, the gap between the 8th ranked team (Hoang Anh Gia Lai) and the play-off position (Binh Dinh) is only 5 points. This is a very fragile number of points, because in the last 8 rounds, there will be many internal matches between the relegation group.

However, the play-off spot must be fought until the last minute. Especially when the First Division teams such as Binh Phuoc and PVF-CAND are very eager to be promoted, which means the pressure on the 13th-place team in the V-League is even greater.

According to the schedule, round 19 of V.League 2024-2025 will take place from April 18 to April 20. According to the announcement of Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF) - V. League Organizing Committee, there will be 3 foreign FIFA referees from Thailand and Malaysia working in 2 matches of round 19 of V. League 2024-25. Specifically, 2 FIFA referees from Thailand: Warintorn Sassadee and Mongkolchai Pechsri will participate in the match between Thanh Hoa Club and The Cong Viettel Club (April 19). Meanwhile, referee Razlan Joffri Bin Ali (Malaysia) and referee Warintorn Sassadee (Thailand) will officiate the match between Song Lam Nghe An Club and Quang Nam Club (April 20), at Vinh Stadium.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/v-league-2024-2025-nong-o-ca-hai-dau-bang-xep-hang-699414.html