Commentator Quang Huy: 'V-League's appeal lies in its derby matches'

BLV Vu Quang Huy notes the landscape of V-League 2025/2026 has revealed distinct contrasts: "The first half of the tournament has passed, sufficiently outlining the group of title candidates, yet uncertainties persist, ensuring the competition stays thrilling down to the last match.

The 3 points from the rescheduled Round 10 match in Thanh Hoa not only helped CAHN widen their lead over second-placed Ninh Bình to 5 points but also marked Alan's breakthrough, reaching 13 goals among V-League 2025/2026's top scorers.

At present, no team demonstrates greater convincing power than CAHN. 32 points after the first leg is not just a number but a milestone for a stable and resilient operating system. Under coach Mano Polking's guidance, CAHN is playing a modern, organized, controlling style of football, ready to accelerate at the right moments.

In Round 14, while CAHN only face HAGL at home, Ninh Bình must visit Nam Định and Thể Công Viettel clash with Hanoi FC, presenting a clear opportunity for Coach Polking's side to pull away from the chasing pack. Conversely, in the bottom half of the table, Round 14 will witness a "reverse final" between SHB Đà Nẵng and PVF-CAND. To avoid falling further behind, SHB Đà Nẵng needs to defeat PVF-CAND at their Chi Lang home ground.

Facing a direct rival in the relegation battle, Coach Le Duc Tuan and his players will go all out for victory. Securing all 3 points in this first match of the second leg would not only narrow the gap with PVF-CAND to just 1 point but also serve as a vital morale boost when the entire team needs to unite in their fight to stay in the V-League next season.

BLV Vu Quang Huy believes the regional or local derbies following mergers will create compelling matchups and add intrigue to Round 14: "Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh will meet their sibling SLNA. In this Nghệ Tĩnh derby, the home side is rated higher, but SLNA under coach Van Sy Son is highly unpredictable, as their emphatic 4-1 win over the powerful Thể Công Viettel at home serves as a warning for Coach Nguyen Cong Manh's team.

Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh has 17 points, temporarily ranking 7th on the table. This is considered a safe and reasonable position for the Hong La River mountain team, prioritizing stability. Meanwhile, the 4-1 victory over Thể Công Viettel in Round 13 spectacularly lifted SLNA out of the bottom group, climbing to 9th place. This will be a major motivation for Coach Van Sy Son's squad in their upcoming away trip.

Thiên Trường Stadium will host the clash between the two Ninh Bình (post-merger) teams: Nam Định and Ninh Bình FC. In stark contrast to the top group, Nam Định is experiencing an unbelievable slump. The back-to-back defending champions have extended their winless streak to 10 matches, a shocking figure for any titleholder.

The defeat to Thể Công Viettel laid bare the issues: a sluggish style of play, lack of fighting spirit, and tactical imbalance. Without significant changes in the second leg, Nam Định even risks being dragged into the relegation battle. Ninh Bình is also desperate for a win to keep chasing CAHN. Therefore, this promises to be a truly unpredictable match, forecast to be explosive as both sides possess excellent players.

The encounter at Thống Nhất Stadium between many former teammates in the Công an TP.HCM and Becamex TP.HCM lineups also attracts significant fan attention. 3 points could give Coach Le Huynh Duc's side a chance to break into the top 5. This is a feasible target as their opponent is not in the best form. However, anything can happen if Tien Linh and his teammates lose focus.

Finally, the capital clash between Thể Công Viettel and Hanoi FC. Thể Công Viettel has no need to rush; even a loss would keep them in 3rd place. Conversely, Coach Harry Kewell's team is determined to grind out every single point in their championship pursuit".