Hanoi Police - Ninh Binh FC: A pivotal match in the championship race

This can be considered an early final of the tournament. Both teams hold the highest positions on the leaderboard, have the best domestic player rosters, and the most explosive offenses. They are also the only two clubs unbeaten so far in this year's LPBank V-League. Both promise to deliver the highest quality performances.

Both sides aim to secure victory in this direct confrontation to gain an advantage in the race for the remainder of the season. Due to this exciting rivalry, the round 12 match between these two teams draws special attention from fans.

At this moment, Ninh Binh leads with 27 points. They are just one point ahead of second-placed Hanoi Police but have played one more match than their rival.

As a newcomer to the V-League, Ninh Binh quickly made a strong impression, rising early to the top and maintaining that position through many rounds. Up to now, Hoang Duc and his teammates remain undefeated in Vietnam’s top football league with 8 wins and 3 draws, extending their unbeaten streak across all official competitions to 36 matches.

The ancient Hoa Lu team will be playing away this round. However, they show no fear on the road. Since the start of the campaign, Ninh Binh has dropped points only once away from home—a 2-2 draw with Hai Phong at the fiery Lach Tray stadium—while winning 7 other away matches across all competitions. Not only do they win, but under coach Ibadalejo Castano Gerard, they also display convincing attacking play, scoring at least 2 goals in every away game.

Ninh Binh has previously earned points at Hang Day against Hanoi FC, defeated Ho Chi Minh City Police at Thong Nhat, and also overcame a tough opponent in Ha Tinh on the road. These results demonstrate Ninh Binh FC’s formidable attacking strength away from home.

Meanwhile, Hanoi Police currently rank second in the V-League with 26 points. However, they have played only 10 matches, and their strong performance in the league indicates that coach Mano Polking’s team is a leading candidate for the championship title.

However, Hanoi Police returned to the V-League somewhat worried due to their recent poor form. In the last four matches, they lost twice. The defeat to Selangor ended their run in the Southeast Asian Champions Cup. Their only win in this period was against Hoang Anh Gia Lai.

Exiting the Southeast Asian Champions Cup has unintentionally allowed the police team to focus more energy on the V-League, which is considered their main target. Hanoi Police will officially take the lead after round 12 if they defeat Ninh Binh.

Home ground remains a major advantage for Hanoi Police this season. At Hang Day, they have a streak of 10 wins and 3 draws in regular time.

Hang Day continues to be a stronghold for Hanoi Police to defeat Ninh Binh, ending the latter’s unbeaten streak of over a year and reclaiming the top spot in the standings.

The match will likely be decided in midfield. This will be a high-level showdown eagerly anticipated by many fans, featuring some of the best midfielders currently in the V-League. The Golden Ball winner Nguyen Hoang Duc (Ninh Binh) will face another talented Vietnamese midfielder, Nguyen Quang Hai (Hanoi Police). Supporting Quang Hai is the "steel shield" Mauk Stefan Ingo, one of the best central midfielders in the league so far. But Hoang Duc is not alone, with the "characterful" Duc Chien and the tireless Chau Ngoc Quang alongside him.

In such a high-stakes match with championship implications, defensive focus is extremely important.

Hanoi Police currently have the best defensive record in the V-League, conceding only 6 goals in 10 matches. This round, Filip Nguyen and his teammates will face a very sharp attack. Ninh Binh FC’s forwards such as Rodrigues Gustavo Henrique, Daniel Da Silva Dos Anjos, Geovane Magno Candido Silveira, Quoc Viet, and young talents Le Phat and Pham Gia Hung have shown how dangerous they are in Ninh Binh’s effective counter-attacking style when playing away.

Unfortunately, in this match, Hanoi Police’s coach Polking cannot be present due to suspension. However, with the home advantage and the experience of a former V-League champion, the police team is ready for an open, attacking game against their opponent.

The match between Hanoi Police and Ninh Binh in round 12 of the LPBank V-League 2025 - 2026 will kick off at 19:15 on February 1. This is not only a “6-point match” but also seen as a crucial test for both teams’ championship ambitions at this pivotal stage.

Expected starting line-ups for both teams:

Hanoi Police: Nguyen Filip, Viet Anh, Gomes, Van Hau, Van Do, Quang Vinh, Quang Hai, Thanh Long, Alan, Dinh Bac, Artur.

Ninh Binh: Van Lam, Ngoc Bao, Marcelino, Thanh Thinh, Tien Anh, Quang Nho, Hoang Duc, Duc Chien, Quoc Viet, Geovane, Gustavo.