Round 16 of V-League: The Race Gets Even Hotter

Round 16 of the V.League 2025/26 has intensified the competition at both the top and bottom of the standings with several noteworthy results.

Round 16 of the V.League 2025/26 continues to heat up the race at both ends of the table. While some teams are accelerating strongly to chase the leading group, the bottom area still witnesses fierce competition as the point gap between teams is not too large.

Nam Dinh Steel Blue Club is showing signs of a clear revival after a period of performance below expectations. The Nam Dinh team just secured its third consecutive victory by defeating Dong A Thanh Hoa 1-0 at Thien Truong Stadium. The match was quite tense as the visiting team played solidly, aiming to secure at least one point. However, the turning point came in the 78th minute when Akolo scored the only goal, securing all three points for the home team.

Even though it was a minimal victory, this result was enough for Nam Dinh to maintain its momentum and improve its position on the table. After round 16, the Nam Dinh team has 21 points and temporarily climbed to 7th place. The gap with the leading group is no longer too far, as the third-placed team, Ninh Binh, has 28 points. This helps the reigning champion continue to hope for a return to the race at the top of the table.

In another development, Hanoi Club also made a notable step forward in the race for the top 3. The Capital team achieved a convincing 3-0 victory over SLNA, a team considered a "phenomenon" in recent rounds. The three points earned helped Hanoi raise its total points to 27, thereby closing in on Ninh Binh's third position with a gap of only one point.

The encounter between SHB Da Nang and HAGL delivered an exciting scenario as the two teams staged a thrilling score chase. SHB Da Nang opened the scoring early in the 11th minute, but then had to struggle to catch up after letting the opponent take the lead. Only in the final minutes of stoppage time in the second half did the Han River team manage to score an equalizer for a 3-3 draw, preserving a point at home.

This result means the race at the bottom of the table hasn't seen much change. SHB Da Nang, HAGL, and Dong A Thanh Hoa all failed to win in this round, thus continuing to struggle in the dangerous zone. Meanwhile, opportunities to improve their positions are opening up for PVF-CAND Club, currently at the bottom of the table, as well as Becamex Ho Chi Minh City, which has 15 points and stands in 10th place. The relegation battle therefore promises to remain very tense in the upcoming rounds.