Round 18 LPBank V-League 2025/26: 'Heat' from the Bottom of the Table

The 18th round taking place this weekend promises to become a flashpoint of tension at both ends of the standings. While CAHN aims for an early championship record, the relegation battle heats up with a series of intense matchups, where every point could alter the situation.

The notable match is the clash between bottom-placed PVF CAND and top-placed CAHN at PVF Stadium. With 44 points, Coach Alexandre Polking's team is very close to the title and could even replicate the record of an early coronation, as Hanoi FC did in 2018.

However, when the point gap is sufficiently large, psychological factors and motivation sometimes become unpredictable. Having "extra points" might cause the top team to lose the necessary intensity, and that is an opportunity for opponents to create surprises.

On the other hand, PVF CAND, despite having only 12 points, has not given up. Coach Tran Tien Dai's squad is just 3 points behind the safe position of HAGL. This slim gap is enough to ignite hope, especially as they play at home and can capitalize on any mistakes from the opponent.

In another development, HAGL faces the risk of sinking deeper into crisis as they visit Nam Dinh's Thien Truong Stadium. The Mountain Town team under Coach Le Quang Trai is struggling to regain stability, having secured only 1 point in the last 3 matches after parting with General Director Vu Tien Thanh.

Conversely, Nam Dinh is one of the teams with the highest form in the league. Since Coach Vu Hong Viet returned, the Nam City team has won 5 consecutive matches across all competitions. With the home advantage of Thien Truong Stadium and the impressive form of Xuan Son and Akolo, the hosts can fully aim for 3 points to close in on the medal group.

The relegation battle also heats up at Vinh Stadium, where SLNA hosts SHB Da Nang. Although leading their opponent by 8 points, SLNA has reason to worry, having failed to beat SHB Da Nang at home for three consecutive seasons.

This is precisely the opportunity for Coach Le Duc Tuan and his team to make a breakthrough. If they win, SHB Da Nang could potentially push HAGL to the second-bottom position. For SLNA, a defeat now could also be part of the club's annual tradition of struggling to survive relegation.

In the top group, The Cong Viettel also faces significant pressure as they host Thanh Hoa. After a regrettable draw against SLNA, Coach Velizar Popov's team has fallen 9 points behind in the title race. If they continue to drop points, The Cong Viettel will not only lose ground to CAHN but also risk being overtaken by Ninh Binh.

Meanwhile, Ninh Binh will have a challenging away trip against Becamex TP.HCM. Although rated higher, Coach Vu Tien Thanh's team needs to be cautious against an opponent desperate for points to avoid relegation. The return of Friday could somewhat aid the club from the ancient capital Hoa Lu.

However, Becamex TP.HCM, positioned 10th with 19 points and not far from the bottom group, promises to be frugal with opportunities when playing at home. The team under General Director Dang Tran Chinh is determined to secure at least a draw, as they managed to do away in the first leg.

If Ninh Binh fails to win in Thu, Hanoi FC will breathe down the necks of Coach Vu Tien Thanh's team, because in this round, Coach Harry Kewell's squad has the home advantage of Hang Day Stadium to host the struggling Hong Linh Ha Tinh.

Hanoi FC needs to strive both to prove they haven't given up and to increase the gap with a series of chasing opponents behind them. Among these, Nam Dinh and Hai Phong are the most notable.

Overall, Round 18 is a moment where the title race could conclude early if CAHN continues its unbeaten streak. But at the lower end, the situation could become tense if PVF CAND and SHB Da Nang rise up.