Ninh Bình - Thanh Hóa: The newcomer demonstrates their strength

Surprising results from newcomers in round 1 serve as a warning for clubs to approach round 2 of the V-League 2025 - 2026 with greater caution.

The newcomer Ninh Bình began this V-League season strongly. On their away trip to Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh, coach Albadalejo Castono Gerard’s team secured a 3-1 comeback victory. This win boosted the morale of the Hoa Lư team and gave them confidence heading into their home match against Thanh Hóa in round 2.

Besides earning full points on the road, Ninh Bình showed great performance against Hà Tĩnh, a tough opponent especially on their home ground. Notably, Ninh Bình’s new players like Dụng Quang Nho, Nguyễn Đức Chiến, and Châu Ngọc Quang have quickly adapted to the team’s style of play.

Meanwhile, in their opening match, Thanh Hóa was held to a 1-1 draw by SHB Đà Nẵng at home. This result was unsatisfactory for Thanh Hóa. Coach Choi Won Kwon’s squad will need to put in significant effort in round 2.

Although newcomers, Ninh Bình are considered to have good chances to defeat Thanh Hóa on their home turf. They currently have many star players from Vietnamese football.

On the other hand, Ninh Bình will pose a major challenge for Thanh Hóa in this round. This season, Thanh Hóa has also lost important players from last year, so the team still needs time to refine their playing style under new coach Choi Won-kwon.

This is a clash between two neighboring teams and a significant test for Ninh Bình’s ambitions against an experienced Thanh Hóa. This match also marks Ninh Bình’s first home game in the V-League in over a decade, promising passionate support but also considerable pressure.

The match between Ninh Bình and Thanh Hóa will kick off at 6 PM on August 23. It is expected to be an emotional and exciting encounter. The opponent, with many years of V-League experience, will be a real challenge for the newcomer in their homecoming game.

Projected starting lineups for both teams

Ninh Bình: Văn Lâm, Patrick Marcelino, Thanh Thịnh, Ngọc Quang, Bảo Toàn, Ngọc Bảo, Đức Chiến, Hoàng Đức, Quang Nho, Daniel Da Silva, Gustavo Henrique.

Thanh Hóa: Y Eli Nie, Mbodj, Quế Ngọc Hải, Văn Lợi, Bá Tiến, Thái Sơn, Ngọc Tân, Võ Nguyên Hoàng, Thái Bình, Văn Thuận, Rimario.