'Fierce' survival battle in the V-League

11/11/2025 11:01:00 PANDATV

The LPBank V-League 2025/26 promises unpredictable developments, especially at the bottom of the table, where every match feels like a "final" as each team desperately seeks a way out.

1. Since their first win this season against Becamex TP.HCM in round 5 late September, SHB Đà Nẵng has gone six straight matches without a victory. Facing one "steep hill" after another, SHB Đà Nẵng has only drawn or lost. This has left the Han River club stuck at the bottom of the standings, facing many difficulties, especially as the league enters a fiercely competitive phase.

SHB Đà Nẵng’s recent form has been a major question mark for their fans. In many matches, the team has clearly shown frustration and inconsistency in their style. The attack has been dull and lifeless, while the defense still fails to provide the necessary assurance. The defense is weak, allowing opponents to score easily, while the offense lacks coordination and misses many chances.

The most alarming aspect is their record at Hòa Xuân stadium. Normally a home ground should be a source of confidence, but Hòa Xuân has become a psychological burden for the Han River team. So far in the 2025/26 season, SHB Đà Nẵng has earned only 1 point from 5 home matches at Hòa Xuân.

This statistic not only reflects their poor playing style but also indicates a failure to make good use of home advantage by coach Lê Đức Tuấn’s squad. If they don’t quickly escape the bottom, SHB Đà Nẵng is likely to face a crisis due to morale issues, especially as other bottom teams try all means to defeat them to improve their own chances of survival.

SHB Đà Nẵng’s situation is extremely critical, holding the last position in the standings. Photo: Hoàng Linh

2. While SHB Đà Nẵng is repeating last season’s mistakes, SLNA, Thanh Hóa, HAGL, and PVF-CAND are also stuck near the bottom. HAGL remains in a difficult situation like many previous seasons. When HAGL declared they would rely on "homegrown talent" for the 2025/26 V-League, the public predicted a warning-filled future for HAGL in this tough and tactical competition. Indeed, the "prophecy" came true very soon.

In fact, investing in and giving chances to young players is a supported view. HAGL promoting youth to the V-League is not new. However, previously, when integrating players, HAGL’s lineup still included experienced players like Minh Vương, Châu Ngọc Quang, and Dụng Quang Nho to carry the team. The current situation at HAGL can be described as "too young, not wise enough."

It is too early to say HAGL will be relegated, but the Mountainous City club knows the road ahead will be exhausting in the fight to stay up. Constantly fluctuating at the bottom of the table is an undeniable fact, and surviving would already be a great success.

Most likely, newcomer PVF-CAND has by now felt the harsh reality of the V-League. Coach Thạch Bảo Khanh must be working hard to train the team and connect the hastily formed pieces from early in the season into a more cohesive unit. For SLNA, coach Văn Sỹ Sơn has started to make an impact since taking charge. Still, the Nghệ An club knows there is much to do to return stronger after the break.

After round 11, the V-League will enter a nearly three-month break. This pause is like "striking gold" for SLNA, Thanh Hóa, HAGL, PVF-CAND, and SHB Đà Nẵng to make adjustments and come back with a more positive appearance.

To avoid a "long night full of dreams," every team in the relegation battle must protect themselves and save their own skin first. Moreover, the relegation race is always extremely intense, not only in terms of skill. There is no other choice but for the bottom teams to fight hard to find a way out, even though the road ahead is full of difficulties.

Comment (0)