V-League Viewed from the Bottom of the Table

The LPBank V-League 2025/2026 is unfolding unpredictably with unforgettable reverberations. While in previous seasons, the line between the "big clubs" and the "lower-tier" teams was often clearly defined from the first half, this year that order is being fiercely challenged.

The league is sending a clear message: being stronger does not guarantee victory. There, teams like SLNA, Becamex TP.HCM, HAGL, Thanh Hóa, PVF-CAND, and SHB Đà Nẵng are striving to overcome difficulties in each round.

For several seasons, SHB Đà Nẵng had lacked resounding victories even when playing at home. The Hòa Xuân stadium, ironically not "auspicious," became a haunting ground for the Han River team. Therefore, when the stadium regained its "legendary Chi Lăng" name, it helped fuel the excitement for a 3-0 win and 3 precious points, igniting hope in the relegation battle for coach Lê Đức Tuấn and his squad.

It must be acknowledged that the rapid integration of new signings, particularly the group of players arriving from Thanh Hóa, and the return of striker Henen from injury, have brought a refreshing new energy to SHB Đà Nẵng.

The addition of quality players like Quế Ngọc Hải, Ribamar, Lamothe Pierre, Võ Nguyên Hoàng, along with the successful naturalization of Gustavo (Đỗ Phi Long), has helped the Han River team significantly plug gaps in their lineup. The result of these changes is positive. In round 12, despite a 0-1 away loss to HAGL, the tactical approach of coach Lê Đức Tuấn's team showed significant improvement.

Despite the convincing win, Quế Ngọc Hải remained sober, stating that SHB Đà Nẵng still has much work to do in the remaining journey, as the team is still at the bottom of the table. Indeed, with one match in hand, coach Lê Đức Tuấn's team still faces numerous challenges, including a rescheduled match (round 13) against a high-flying CAHN.

However, the "flame" of Chi Lăng could prove to be an extremely crucial and beneficial turning point for SHB Đà Nẵng, while also making the relegation battle at the bottom of the table tighter than ever, with gaps narrowed to just 1 or 2 points or goal difference.

Heading South, Becamex TP.HCM also managed to win during a difficult period. Rated significantly lower than the home team CATP.HCM, Becamex TP.HCM won the derby at Thống Nhất Stadium, thereby jumping to 10th place. Coach Đặng Trần Chỉnh and his team temporarily relieved the long-pent-up pressure.

Thanh Hóa also earned a valuable point at Hải Phòng's Lạch Tray Stadium amidst mounting difficulties in both finances and personnel. Despite facing numerous hardships, Thanh Hóa became a beacon of fighting spirit. They proved that in football, class can be bought, but resilience and grit must be forged from identity and honor.

The playing style of the Thanh region's team may not be flashy or elaborate, but it is extremely hard to defeat because it is built on a foundation of the desire to survive. The resurgence of lower-ranked teams like Thanh Hóa has made the relegation battle more tense than ever, simultaneously narrowing the skill gap between V-League clubs.

Defending champions Nam Định also managed to "break their curse" with a victory over Ninh Bình. With foreign player Chadrac, naturalized striker Xuân Son, and overseas Vietnamese player Kevin Phạm Ba all scoring, Nam Định ended a 10-match winless streak. While the 3 points only moved them up one spot in the standings, the return of coach Vũ Hồng Việt and Xuân Son signals a positive shift for the defending champions.

Given the observed fluctuations, the "big clubs" that stumble will have to reconsider their position, while the lower-ranked teams gain more hope to stage upsets. The second half of the season promises to be even more intense, as no match will be "easy." Resilience and focus will be the key determinants of fate, because a single moment of lapse could turn any top team into the victim of a new shock.