Xuan Son and his teammates have not won in 9 consecutive V-League matches

Nam Dinh has been unable to secure a victory in 9 straight V-League games, which has severely diminished their hopes of retaining the title.

Nam Dinh is undergoing a difficult phase in the 2025/26 V-League season, having gone 9 matches in a row without a win. From being the reigning champions, the team from Nam has fallen into the lower half of the standings, making the goal of defending their crown more distant than ever.

After 12 rounds, Nam Dinh has only accumulated 12 points and trails the league leaders, Hanoi Police, by as many as 19 points on the V-League standings, despite having played one more game than their rivals. This huge gap, with only 13 rounds left in the second half, means the possibility of a comeback is almost purely theoretical.

The return of Nguyen Xuan Son after injury brought positive signs in regional competitions, but in the V-League, Nam Dinh’s performance has not improved significantly. Two draws against Thanh Hoa and Hong Linh Ha Tinh, teams considered weaker, have caused the Thien Truong stadium hosts to drop crucial points.

Nam Dinh’s problems lie at both ends of the field. Statistics show the team scores an average of 1 goal per match but concedes 1.4 goals per game. After 12 rounds, they have scored 13 goals but allowed 17 goals against, and in 11 of the 12 matches, they failed to keep a clean sheet. Their attack lacks sharpness while the defense reveals many mistakes.

Although mathematically they still have a chance to win the championship if they win all remaining matches and other teams slip up, this scenario is highly unlikely. Not only Hanoi Police, but teams like Hanoi, The Cong Viettel, and Ninh Binh are also maintaining stable form, creating a fierce battle at the top.

In this context, Nam Dinh may need to set more realistic goals. Competing for a spot in the V-League’s top 4 might be more suitable for their current situation, while focusing efforts on the Southeast Asian club competitions where they have shown positive performances. Without timely improvement, this season will end with many regrets for the reigning champions.