The V-League remains thrilling as it approaches the final round.

Welcoming The Cong Viettel at 6:00 PM tonight (May 31) in the 25th round of the 2025/26 V-League, CLB Cong An TP.HCM seeks a win to maintain its place among the top five.

With improved form under coach Phung Thanh Phuong, alongside home-field advantage and strong determination, Patrik Le Giang and his teammates have an opportunity to surprise a weakened opponent.

The penultimate round of the 2025/26 V-League features a notable clash between Cong An TP.HCM and The Cong Viettel.

Although the standings suggest the visiting team is favored, developments before kickoff present a significant opportunity for the home side at Binh Duong Stadium.

With Thong Nhat Stadium undergoing upgrades for the 2026 National Sports Festival, Binh Duong Stadium has become Cong An TP.HCM's temporary home base. The club's management decided to allow free entry for fans, a gesture showing their determination in a match seen as a turning point of the season.

The motivation for CLB Cong An TP.HCM is clear. With 34 points after 24 rounds, coach Phung Thanh Phuong's team sits fifth but leads Hai Phong and Nam Dinh by just three points. A win against The Cong Viettel would bring the city team very close to their goal of staying in the top five—an achievement considered entirely feasible after a turbulent season.

The arrival of coach Phung Thanh Phuong, replacing Le Huynh Duc, has brought positive signals. The manager remains unbeaten since taking over, earning five points in the last three matches. More importantly, he has instilled stability in spirit and style for a squad that previously experienced inconsistent periods.

The home side's confidence also stems from the form of standout individuals like Patrik Le Giang, Quang Hung, and Khoa Ngo. Notably, overseas Vietnamese striker Williams Lee has become a major attacking hope with six goals this season. His effectiveness provides Cong An TP.HCM with more options to approach the opponent's goal.

On the other hand, The Cong Viettel travels to Binh Duong with considerable concerns. Wesley Nata and Kyle Colonna are suspended due to accumulated yellow cards, while defender Dinh Viet Tu remains absent due to disciplinary action.

These are all key players in coach Velizar Popov's system. The squad depletion will undoubtedly affect the strength of the team currently second in the standings.

Of course, The Cong Viettel's objective remains clear. A positive result would bring them closer to the runner-up position and a spot in next season's Asian competition. However, if they leave empty-handed while rivals like Ha Noi FC or Ninh Binh win, the race for second place will become much more complicated ahead of the final round.

In the first leg, Cong An TP.HCM suffered a heavy 0-3 defeat at The Cong Viettel's ground. That is a memory coach Phung Thanh Phuong's team wants to erase with a completely different performance in this rematch.