Hanoi FC vs. Hanoi Police: The Decisive Turn in the Championship Race

Hanoi Police currently leads the V-League standings this season and is also the only unbeaten team up to this point in the competition, with 11 wins and 2 draws.

The team coached by Mano Polking firmly holds the top spot with 35 points, 7 points ahead of second-placed Ninh Bình. Moreover, Hanoi Police has played two fewer matches than their rival. This is a fairly safe gap for the police force team in their journey to conquer the championship.

Hanoi Police's attack is performing very well, having scored a total of 31 goals. Their Brazilian striker Alan Grafite has netted 13 times, temporarily leading the top scorer list. Focusing fully on the domestic arena helps Hanoi Police maintain impressive scoring efficiency, with at least 3 goals in 3 out of their last 4 matches.

Their defense is also playing very solidly, having conceded only 10 goals so far.

In the first-leg match, Hanoi Police crushed Hanoi FC with a 4-2 score. Just one point in this capital derby would allow them to enter history by becoming the team with the best start in V-League history, a record previously set by Hanoi FC in 2018. Hanoi Police only needs a draw to rewrite that record.

If they secure a victory, they would not only set a new milestone but could also accelerate strongly on their path to the championship.

It can be said that this derby could be the moment Hanoi Police firmly plants one foot on the throne.

Meanwhile, Hanoi FC under coach Harry Kewell has regained a winning feeling recently. But in the previous round, they suffered a 0-1 defeat against Viettel.

Capital derbies have never been solely about form or standings.

Hanoi FC no longer maintains its previous dominance, but they remain one of the most resilient and experienced teams in the V-League. After 14 rounds, Hanoi FC has only 21 points, ranking 4th on the table and trailing Hanoi Police by 14 points. With that gap, the championship race is becoming distant for them.

But a derby is always a different match. History has repeatedly shown that they have entered derbies as the "underdog" and left the field victorious. Therefore, the derby against Hanoi Police is not just a match of honor, but also an opportunity for Harry Kewell's team to prove they remain a formidable force.

The match is also an eagerly awaited tactical duel on the coaching benches. Coach Mano Polking has built Hanoi Police around a philosophy of proactive attack, controlling the game and continuously applying pressure. Meanwhile, Harry Kewell is shaping Hanoi FC into a more disciplined style, leaning towards organization and quick counter-attacks. This contrast makes this capital derby resemble a tactical chess game rather than a simple chase.

The spotlight match between Hanoi FC and Hanoi Police in Round 15 of V-League 2025-2026 will take place at 19:15 on March 8. With superior squad depth and momentum in rhythm, Mano Polking's team is rated significantly higher in this derby.