HAGL - Đà Nẵng: A Match Between ‘The Struggling’

Currently, Hoàng Anh Gia Lai (8 points) and Đà Nẵng (7 points) sit near the bottom of the standings, urgently needing 3 points to escape danger. The narrow gap in the table makes this direct confrontation a true "reverse final."

It can be said that Coach Lê Quang Trãi’s team remains in crisis at 12th place, yet the river city team is no better. Therefore, both sides must win this match to break free from their struggles.

During the V-League break, HAGL prepared impressively for the league’s return by winning the 2025 Thái Nguyên Four-Team Cup, which featured strong teams like Hà Nội FC, Thể Công Viettel, and PVF CAND. Although a friendly tournament, it was a significant morale boost for a team with a rather poor recent record.

However, HAGL recently faced a setback, losing to PVF CAND on penalties in the National Cup. In that match, HAGL played offensively with several chances created, but bad luck and poor finishing led to a penalty shootout defeat.

After being knocked out of the National Cup, the Mountain team will focus fully on avoiding relegation, with their first task being to secure 3 points at home against Đà Nẵng. This pivotal match leaves Coach Lê Quang Trãi’s squad no room for error against a direct competitor. Since the gap between the bottom team and 9th place is only 2 points, every result in this group could cause major shifts in the standings. HAGL can climb out of the relegation zone if they win against Đà Nẵng at Pleiku.

For Coach Lê Đức Tuấn’s side, after a strong finish last season to avoid relegation, they have returned to their usual weak form. With both domestic and foreign players underperforming and lacking cohesion, Đà Nẵng is unlikely to recover unless they capitalize on points from matches against similarly struggling teams.

Pleiku Stadium is no longer a fortress for HAGL this season. The Mountain team suffered a 0-3 loss to Becamex TP Hồ Chí Minh in the opening round and a 1-3 defeat to Công an Hà Nội before the long break.

Meanwhile, SHB Đà Nẵng has shown resilience on the road, earning 6 of their 7 points away from home (1 win, 3 draws, 2 losses), outperforming their home record.

Home advantage will not favor HAGL in this encounter. The difficult situation forces both teams to give their all for at least a point, making this a highly anticipated match.

In terms of form, HAGL has won only once in their last 9 matches across all competitions, with 2 draws and 3 losses in the last 5. Đà Nẵng somewhat relieved pressure by beating SLNA in the National Cup, ending a 6-match winless streak.

The head-to-head record favors HAGL. Since 2021, Đà Nẵng has never beaten the Mountain team in the V-League. In their last 7 encounters, Đà Nẵng lost 3 and drew 4 times.

To prepare for the next phase of the season, Đà Nẵng has made strong moves in the transfer market. Bringing in experienced players combined with young talents aims to balance youth and maturity, significantly improving the squad’s quality.

While HAGL added midfielder Lương Thanh Ngọc Lâm from Ninh Bình for this match, Đà Nẵng signed several notable newcomers such as Quế Ngọc Hải, Pierre Lamothe, Pissano, Lucas Ribamar, and Võ Nguyên Hoàng.

HAGL and Đà Nẵng are very familiar with each other in this desperate situation. Last season, they met three times without a winner: twice in the V-League and once in a friendly.

Given the current circumstances, HAGL only needs a draw to avoid dropping to the bottom, but for Coach Lê Quang Trãi’s team, a draw feels like a defeat. Playing at home and failing to beat the last-placed Đà Nẵng means winning against others in the V-League will be even harder.

The “do-or-die” match between HAGL and Đà Nẵng in round 12 of the 2025 - 2026 V-League will kick off at 17:00 on February 1 at Pleiku. Both teams need to secure points in the relegation battle, promising a thrilling contest.

Round 12 Schedule
February 1
17:00: Hoàng Anh Gia Lai - SHB Đà Nẵng
18:00: Đông Á Thanh Hóa - Thép Xanh Nam Định
18:00: PVF CAND - Công an TP Hồ Chí Minh
19:15: Công an Hà Nội - Ninh Bình