Live: Thanh Hóa vs Nam Định: Ngọc Mỹ starts, Xuân Son on the bench

(Live football) - The match between Thanh Hóa and Nam Định in round 12 of the V-League highlights a contrast between upper management crises and Nam Định's surge after Nguyễn Xuân Son's remarkable return.

Starting lineup for Thanh Hóa

Starting lineup for Nam Định

What time is Thanh Hóa vs Nam Định, and where to watch live?

• Match time:6:00 PM on February 1, 2026
• Venue:Thanh Hóa Stadium
• Competition:Round 12 of V-League 2025/26
• Broadcast channel:F PT Play

Expected lineups for Thanh Hóa vs Nam Định

• Thanh Hóa:Xuân Hoàng, Minh Đoàn, Văn Lợi, Đình Huyên, Ngọc Hà, Văn Tùng, Abdurakhmanov, Trùm Tỉnh, Văn Thắng, Damoth, Rimario.
• Nam Định: Nguyên Mạnh, Văn Vĩ, Lucao, Phạm Ba, Hồng Duy, Romulo, Percy Tau, Tuấn Anh, Caio Cesar, Walber, Xuân Son.

Match preview: Thanh Hóa vs Nam Định

Thanh Hóa club is entering a turbulent phase with instability affecting multiple areas, from personnel and upper management to instability on the coaching bench. Amid this, the Thanh Hóa team faces a major squad shock, making their second phase journey in the 2025/26 V.League more challenging than ever.

The simultaneous departure of three outstanding youth academy products — Nguyễn Thái Sơn, Lê Văn Thuận, and Nguyễn Ngọc Mỹ — has dealt a heavy blow to Thanh Hóa's ambitions. These players were key pillars forming a stable core over the past two seasons. Their mass exit not only weakens the squad but also leaves Coach Mai Xuân Hợp with a difficult problem regarding squad depth. However, Thanh Hóa finds some consolation as Ngọc Mỹ remains on loan from Ninh Bình until the end of the season, easing pressure on the attack.

After 10 rounds, Thanh Hóa has only secured one win, with five draws and four losses, currently placed 11th, just one point above bottom-ranked Đà Nẵng. This narrow margin forces Thanh Hóa to carefully collect every point in the relegation battle.

In the next round, Thanh Hóa will face a tough challenge hosting Nam Định, the reigning V.League champions showing signs of revival. Although their domestic form remains inconsistent, the Nam Định team has made a splash in continental and regional competitions with impressive victories.Notably, the explosive return of Nguyễn Xuân Son, who has scored 7 goals since his comeback, is injecting fresh energy into Nam Định's playstyle.

Buoyed by a morale boost from a 3-0 win over Lion City Sailors, Coach Mauro Jeronimo's squad is expected to bring strong momentum when traveling to Thanh Hóa, promising a thrilling and significant match for both sides.

Form and head-to-head record

• Thanh Hóa: Thanh Hóa is currently on a poor run, failing to win in their last 5 matches, with 4 draws and 1 loss.
• Nam Định: In contrast, Nam Định shows impressive form with 4 wins in their last 5 games, achieving an 80% win rate.
• Head-to-head history: In their last 5 encounters, Nam Định holds a clear advantage with 3 wins, 1 draw, and Thanh Hóa winning only once.