Round 19 V-League 2024/2025: "Hot" at both ends of the rankings

As the 2024/2025 V-League enters its final stages, each round is now not only a race for points, but also a place to demonstrate the bravery, desire and fighting spirit of the teams. The upcoming round 19 promises to be a crucial turning point, where any mistake can cost the clubs the effort of an entire season.

The championship race is as tense as a bowstring.

Nam Dinh FC is still the leader in the rankings after 18 rounds with 35 points. However, the somewhat regrettable draw at Thien Truong against Ho Chi Minh City FC in round 18 has significantly narrowed the gap between them and the chasing group. The pressure is weighing heavily on the shoulders of coach Vu Hong Viet and his team as they will have a difficult away trip to Da Nang FC - a team that is fighting to stay in the highest league in the country.

Nam Dinh Club will host Da Nang at home in round 19 of V-League 2024/2025.

Meanwhile, names like Hanoi FC, CAHN Club and The Cong Viettel are still "breathing hot" behind the reigning V-League champion. If Nam Dinh stumbles in Tam Ky against Da Nang, the three capital teams can completely continue to narrow the gap in the race for the championship to create breakthroughs in the rest of the season.

In addition, coach Vu Hong Viet and his team also received bad news about their 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 of the match against Ho Chi Minh City Club. This was also the match in which Romulo scored to help Nam Dinh keep 1 point at Thien Truong Stadium.

According to the regulations, Romulo will have to sit out the next two rounds and this is certainly a big loss of foreign players for coach Vu Hong Viet's team, especially in the away match considered a "turning point" in the V-League championship race this season at Tam Ky Stadium against a Da Nang team that is extremely thirsty for points.

Golden opportunity for three capital football teams

Hanoi FC is still in its “honeymoon” with new head coach Makoto Teguramori. Since the Japanese strategist took the “hot seat”, the purple team of the capital has maintained an unbeaten streak with 3 wins and 2 draws. Although the away match at Go Dau Stadium of Binh Duong promises to be difficult, Van Quyet and his teammates are still highly appreciated in terms of strength and stable performance. If they win all 3 points in the match taking place a day earlier (April 19), Hanoi FC will put a lot of pressure on the top team Nam Dinh when the gap between the two teams before this round is only 4 points.

In round 19, Hanoi FC will visit Binh Duong's Go Dau stadium. (Photo: Duong Thuat)

Meanwhile, in the match taking place on April 18, the earliest match day of round 19 of the 2024/2025 V-League, CAHN Club has a great chance to close in on the top team Nam Dinh when they only have to host Ho Chi Minh City Club at home at Hang Day Stadium. If they win by more than 2 goals against the away team, coach Mano Polking and his team will take the second place from Hanoi FC at least for one day, with the same 31 points but ranked higher thanks to a better sub-index.

Playing at the same time as Hanoi FC in this round (6pm on April 19) is the third representative of the capital - The Cong Viettel. Although playing away, only having to face the unstable team Thanh Hoa, also on a streak of 9 consecutive matches without a win, will be an opportunity for coach Nguyen Duc Thang to break the streak of 2 recent draws to make a strong comeback in the championship race.

Currently, Viettel FC is only 1 point behind the second-placed Hanoi FC, and 5 points behind the leading Nam Dinh. Surely, quenching the thirst for 3 points will help the army team close in on their opponents and contribute to making the championship race in V-League 2024/2025 more fierce and exciting than ever.

The fight to escape "death"

If the championship race at the top is extremely intense, the relegation battle is equally fierce at the bottom of the rankings. Da Nang FC is currently at the bottom with only 10 points after 18 rounds, the most promising candidate for direct relegation. Although there have been changes, efforts and determination to overcome difficulties, bringing certain positive signals after the FIFA Days break in March 2025, the gap of up to 6 points compared to the second-to-last position of Binh Dinh FC makes the chance of the Han River team staying in the V-League very fragile.

Da Nang Club is at the bottom of the rankings with 10 points after 18 rounds. (Photo: Hoai Thuong)

Meanwhile, the "hurdle" race is taking place extremely fiercely between the groups from 11th to 13th place, including Quang Nam (20 points), SLNA (18 points) and Binh Dinh Club (16 points). It is not difficult to see that after this round, the situation can completely reverse.

Because in addition to Da Nang having to face the top team Nam Dinh who is thirsty for points to compete for the championship, SLNA will directly face Quang Nam at 6pm on April 20 in a 6-point match to escape the "death". Meanwhile, Binh Dinh will visit Lach Tray Stadium of Hai Phong Club in an effort to earn 3 points to continue competing for a "rescue" ticket to stay in the league in a season where they are considered to be competing for the championship instead of the current predicament of being second to last on the rankings.

Hinge round

Round 19 of the 2024/2025 V-League is considered a pivotal round that could decide the outcome of the season. In the top group, Nam Dinh FC will continue their journey to maintain the top spot when facing Da Nang, who are desperate for points. Meanwhile, teams such as Hanoi FC, The Cong Viettel and CAHN FC will have to make the most of every opportunity to continue to stay close to the championship race, in the context that there are only 8 rounds left until the end of the season.

On the contrary, in the bottom group, a victory for Binh Dinh Club against Hai Phong or SLNA overcoming Quang Nam in the "reverse final" can completely cause the teams above like Ho Chi Minh City Club to fall into the danger zone.

Quach Khiem/VOV.VN

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/vong-19-v-league-2024-2025-nong-ca-hai-dau-bang-xep-hang-193006.htm