Expert Đoàn Minh Xương: 'V-League is exciting at both ends of the standings'

Expert Đoàn Minh Xương believes that V-League 2025/2026 is more worth watching as the races at both ends of the standings have become clear. For instance, in this round alone, viewers will witness CAHN facing Ninh Bình in a "six-point match" while SHB Đà Nẵng hosts HAGL in a "reverse final."

Expert Đoàn Minh Xương observes: "The competition is truly tense with unexpected developments in the race for the top spot as well as the struggle to escape relegation among the bottom group. It is still too early to confirm which names will be relegated or which team will be crowned at the end of the season, but V-League 2025/2026 has already formed races at the top and bottom of the table.

Moving into the second half, V-League is witnessing the resurgence of established teams as well as signs of revival from clubs in the bottom group. While Thể Công Viettel has narrowed the gap with CAHN and Ninh Bình continues to chase, the points among the five teams at the bottom are not far apart.

CAHN and Ninh Bình have each dropped points, making the race for the championship very exciting as Thể Công - Viettel shows good form in the recent two rounds. With 35 points currently, CAHN has allowed the chasing group to reduce the gap to just 4 points.

CAHN still has one match left compared to their main rivals in the championship race, so they still have control over their fate. However, the lesson from CLB Ninh Bình serves as a warning for coach Mano Polking and his team, because if they slip up again, Thể Công - Viettel is ready to stage an overthrow.

In this round, CAHN will be guests of Ninh Bình, a team eager to bounce back after a recent slump. If they succeed, Ninh Bình will pose a significant challenge to all opponents, not just CAHN.

Looking at the actual strength of each team, it is not difficult to see that CAHN, Thể Công Viettel, Ninh Bình, and Hanoi FC still stand out in the long race for the V-League crown. CAHN currently holds the "yellow jersey," but the remaining journey will be more intense as Thể Công Viettel and Ninh Bình persistently chase. Even Hanoi FC, once they regain their winning rhythm, will play the role of an annoying "roadblock."

Regarding the developments in the relegation battle, expert Đoàn Minh Xương believes that amid surrounding difficulties, clubs in the lower half of the standings will unleash their "survival instinct" to rise up before it's too late: "Recent rounds have seen the 'bottom-tier' teams secure crucial points, causing some fluctuations in rankings within the bottom group. For them, even though they haven't had a 'relief rain,' they have at least 'cooled down' some of the heat at the bottom to ease the pressure.

It can be seen that the determination and hunger for points among the championship contenders threaten the 'fate' of the weakest teams. They must fight to find an escape route, knowing that many difficulties lie ahead. There is no other way; the clubs must learn to adapt and strive to 'race,' accumulating points through each 'turn.'

But that does not mean the weaker teams are not allowed to seize the moment when the 'big teams' stumble to climb up. Because the teams in the lower group understand that they must accumulate points as much as possible before those 'machines' accelerate toward the finish line. Overall, the relegation battle in V-League is always fierce, accompanied by unpredictable changes. Therefore, the group at the bottom of the table is hungry for wins to carve their own escape path.

V-League 2025/2026 is reaching its climax. However, the biggest concern is whether the excitement will continue after the national team finishes its Asian Cup 2027 qualifying match? Fans are hoping to witness exciting, beautiful, dramatic, and spectacular matches like the one between CAHN and Hanoi FC in round 15. That truly was a 'refreshing rain' for V-League. The league greatly needs such 'model matches' to elevate professionalism and attract fans."