V-League relegation battle: Only when the pond dries up do you know the mudfish.

Thanh Hoa Club, during the period when FLC was still the sponsor, once competed for the V-League championship. However, it is still Thanh Hoa, but after switching to Dong A sponsorship, its competitive capability diminished significantly. Moreover, after the club president was imprisoned, the team's participation in the relegation battle was seen as inevitable.

However, in some recent matches, Thanh Hoa unexpectedly revived. The team under young coach Mai Xuan Hop suddenly played with great momentum, with a resounding 4-0 victory over CA TP.HCM serving as proof. Thanh Hoa Club temporarily escaped the danger zone, even though they recently lost to The Cong Viettel. It is not simple that the Thanh region team played so spiritedly; there must have been encouragement from various aspects.

On the contrary, direct competitors for the relegation spot with Thanh Hoa Club, such as SHB Da Nang and PVF CAND, have not achieved good results recently. Specifically, SHB Da Nang only obtained 2 out of 15 maximum points and was pushed to the bottom of the rankings. This led to the decision to replace both the Club President and the head coach.

Choosing opponents to play has always been a necessary calculation in both the race for the crown and the relegation battle. The mistake of some teams is precisely illusion and not accurately determining this from the beginning.

Returning to this season's relegation battle. In theory, Thanh Hoa holds an advantage, at least compared to PVF CAND or SHB Da Nang, with a negligible point difference. However, looking back at the remaining schedule of the tournament, nothing is 100% certain for the Thanh region team.

The reverse final match in round 20 between Thanh Hoa and PVF CAND will determine the relegation chances of these two teams for this season. PVF CAND hastily secured a V-League spot without the best preparation, and this is a disadvantage for them.

Meanwhile, the "mysterious factor" SHB Da Nang, after a comprehensive change on the coaching bench and leadership structure, is showing determination to start anew. The team by the Han River originally possessed a fairly seasoned domestic player base; what they lacked in recent rounds was precisely a boost in morale and stability in play style. The arrival of the new coach is expected to bring a fresh breath of life, helping young players like Duy Cuong or Phi Hoang regain confidence at the right time.

Looking broadly at the situation of the bottom group, the relegation battle is not merely a story about points but also about the courage to withstand pressure. Traditional clubs like SLNA or SHB Da Nang always have an intangible value from historical depth and home fan support, something newcomers like PVF CAND cannot achieve overnight. This will be an important weapon in the "six-point" matches.

V-League history has witnessed many spectacular "survival" performances in the final stages. However, in the context of professional football increasingly demanding systematic and substantial investment, off-field calculations (if any) are also difficult to cover up deficiencies in professional capability. The revival of Thanh Hoa or the renewal efforts of SHB Da Nang show that clubs have realized: Only actual strength and a thorough preparation plan are the shortest path to safety.

The tournament only has 8 rounds left, and every mistake at this moment could cost an entire season. For PVF CAND, Thanh Hoa, or SHB Da Nang, the ticket to stay in Vietnam's highest playground is the most impartial test of each club's management capability and fighting spirit.

Just as the proverb says, "Only when the pond dries up do you know the mudfish," only when the race enters the final meters, the true mettle of the "survivors" is revealed most clearly.