Round 8 of the LPBank V-League 2025/26: Extremely tough for HAGL!

Ninh Bình is also aiming to extend their unbeaten streak (an Asian record) to 31 matches currently. In the win against Hà Nội FC, Hoàng Đức tried to play despite still feeling tired to support his teammates. Ninh Bình is determined to win this match as it is an opportunity to pull ahead of their rivals. Playing earlier will put pressure on the chasing teams.

Thể Công Viettel, currently second behind Ninh Bình, theoretically can easily defeat the bottom team HAGL. However, coach Velizar Popov admits he has never had luck working in Vietnam and facing HAGL.

Recently, Thể Công Viettel lost 1-2 to HAGL in Round 22 of V-League 2024/25, extending their winless streak against this opponent to 5 matches.

Coach Popov has faced HAGL 4 times when managing Thanh Hóa, drawing 3 and losing 1. “The truth is I can’t beat HAGL. They are the only team in Vietnam I haven’t beaten,” Popov said bitterly 5 months ago.

Currently, HAGL is struggling with 3 points from 6 matches, scoring only 1 goal. However, Thể Công Viettel does not underestimate them and recognizes the match against HAGL will not be easy. That is why Popov’s team must focus and aim to break the curse at Pleiku.

The squad led by Technical Director Vũ Tiến Thành will try to rely on spirit and tradition when facing Thể Công Viettel to escape danger at home. However, the advantage still lies with the visitors. Thể Công Viettel has a chance to top the table with 3 points against HAGL.

The highlight of Round 8 is the "derby" between Hanoi Police and Ho Chi Minh City Police. Both clubs have 14 points, ranked third and fourth respectively. Hanoi Police disappointed by failing to win at SLNA last week. However, returning to their home stadium Hàng Đẫy, coach Alexandre Polking’s team may show a different performance.

Ho Chi Minh City Police is quite similar to Hanoi Police in their inconsistent form, nearly losing to Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh in Round 7. Coach Lê Huỳnh Đức’s team generally lacks star players like Hanoi Police, and the absence of two foreign players, Endrick Dos Santos and Raphael Utzig, due to injury, greatly affects the squad.

The upcoming clash between Quang Hải and Tiến Linh will attract much attention as, after many decades, these two traditional clubs in Vietnamese football meet again. Currently, the home team holds the advantage. However, Ho Chi Minh City Police is ready to surprise on a day when Tiến Linh performs exceptionally.

Near the bottom, Nam Định has no way back and must win against SHB Đà Nẵng at all costs. The home team at Thiên Trường Stadium has not won in their last 4 V-League matches, including 3 consecutive losses. The defeat to Gamba Osaka on October 22 in the AFC Champions League Two also worries many Nam Định fans. The pressure is immense for coach Vũ Hồng Việt.

The coach who led Nam Định to two consecutive V-League titles risks losing his job if he cannot lead the team out of this crisis. However, SHB Đà Nẵng is not an easy opponent after making Thể Công Viettel sweat in Round 7. SHB Đà Nẵng’s counterattack strategy is impressive, especially with striker Milan Makaric’s opportunistic skills.

Nam Định seems confused in selecting lineups for domestic and international matches. If this is not resolved soon, coach Vũ Hồng Việt will find it hard to continue with the club until season’s end. This match can be seen as a chance for him to correct mistakes.