Expert Đoàn Minh Xương: 'The V-League relegation battle is like a maze'

The LPBank V-League 2025/2026 landscape remains highly volatile in the final third of the season, particularly the relegation struggle.

Before round 19, expert Đoàn Minh Xương observed: "Looking at the schedule of the remaining 8 matches, the championship is almost a two-horse race between CAHN and Thể Công Viettel, while the 3rd place is contested by Ninh Bình FC and Hà Nội FC.

After 18 rounds, V-League 2025/26 repeats a familiar, even tedious pattern where the title race still features the usual names CAHN and Thể Công Viettel, while the familiar faces from previous seasons' relegation battles remain 'steadfast' in the bottom group.

The gap between top-ranked CAHN and reigning champion Nam Định is already 21 points, equivalent to exactly 7 wins. With only 8 rounds left in V-League 2025/2026, Nam Định is effectively a 'former champion'.

Currently, CAHN still leads the table, with a 7-point advantage over second-placed Thể Công, followed by Ninh Bình, Hà Nội FC, and Hải Phòng.

It seemed CAHN would 'relax' and coast smoothly to the finish, but the draw against PVF-CAND has made things 'tight' again, even though CAHN still holds the advantage. Facing CATP.HCM at this stage won't be easy for CAHN either, as coach Lê Huỳnh Đức's team doesn't want to lose another match.

Looking at this final stretch, coach Polking's team holds the advantage, not only due to the 7-point lead but also because their upcoming opponents are relatively lighter: CATP.HCM, SLNA, Hải Phòng, Nam Định, Thanh Hóa, Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh, Becamex TP.HCM, before facing Thể Công Viettel in the final match.

For Thể Công Viettel, among the 7 teams they must face, besides HAGL, SHB Đà Nẵng, Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh, PVF-CAND, CATP.HCM, coach Popov's team also has to meet two tough opponents: Ninh Bình and Nam Định, before 'closing the season' against CAHN. Overall, at this point, CAHN and Thể Công Viettel playing against teams in the relegation battle group might be even more challenging than facing the top group.

In the race for 3rd place, Ninh Bình, despite having a points advantage over Hà Nội FC, will soon face Hà Nội FC and Thể Công Viettel, who are currently in high form and have extensive experience. Therefore, coach Vũ Tiến Thành's team could completely lose the 3rd position to Hà Nội FC".

Expert Đoàn Minh Xương acknowledges that the highest honors of V-League 2025/2026 are unlikely to escape the grasp of the capital city teams, while the relegation battle in the bottom group, despite 8 rounds remaining, remains an unpredictable 'maze': "Hot and fierce, that's how the relegation fight can be described, as the bottom group teams are pouring all their 'essence' into staying in the V-League.

Just in the past two days, SHB Đà Nẵng has undergone major changes in two key positions: Club President and Technical Director. The new names are highly rated for professional competence, but changing leadership near the end of the journey raises concerns about adaptation within the Han River team.

Everyone knows this 'refresh' of the upper echelon aims solely to revive a SHB Đà Nẵng that has been and is still sliding uncontrollably downhill, specifically being ranked at the bottom. Clearly, improving SHB Đà Nẵng's performance is imperative, especially as the team is about to repeat the relegation scenario from the 2023 season.

Strategist Yusuke Adachi is highly regarded professionally, but the issue is that this change occurs precisely at a 'sensitive' moment, with only 8 rounds left in V-League 2025/2026. Is there enough time for SHB Đà Nẵng to absorb the new operational methods, new tactics, new philosophy to perform better?

Đà Nẵng fans are anxiously waiting, hoping this restructuring not only helps SHB Đà Nẵng avoid relegation but also promises positive changes for the entire SHB Đà Nẵng club system, particularly in youth training, playing style development, and sustainable growth direction.

It's not only SHB Đà Nẵng launching a 'campaign' to secure safe relegation survival. The teams in the bottom group have no other choice but to save themselves before hoping for any 'favors' within the 'maze' of the relegation battle".