Coach Park Hang Seo's team faces the biggest challenge of the season.

Despite being guaranteed a playoff berth, Bac Ninh must navigate numerous hazards ahead of the season's crucial clash.

Bac Ninh Club has achieved its goal of earning a ticket to the playoff match for the right to play in V.League 2026/27 after securing the runner-up position in the 2025/26 National First Division. However, before entering what is considered the most important game of the season, the team from Kinh Bac still has a non-negligible task in the final round. According to multiple sources, Bac Ninh is facing considerable risks that could directly affect their promotion ambitions.

In the final round, Coach Paulo Fiaoni’s side will host PVF-CAND Youth at Viet Yen Stadium. Although the result of this match no longer impacts the championship race, as Dong Nai has already secured direct promotion, it remains the final warm-up before the playoff match on June 12 at Ha Tinh Stadium. Therefore, Bac Ninh must carefully plan to maintain the best condition for their key players.

What concerns Bac Ninh's coaching staff most at this point is not the match score but the risk of squad depletion. A red card, a disciplinary sanction, or unexpected injuries could cost the team important assets ahead of the decisive encounter. This is seen as the biggest trap Bac Ninh must overcome before dreaming of a ticket to the highest level of Vietnamese football.

Pressure on Bac Ninh also comes from unfavorable statistics. Over the past 12 years, no First Division representative has defeated a V.League team in the promotion playoff. According to multiple sources, Bac Ninh's potential opponents are Da Nang, PVF-CAND, or Becamex HCMC. All are experienced top-flight teams with superior squad quality.

Nevertheless, the match against PVF-CAND Youth still holds professional significance for Bac Ninh. It is a chance for key players like Bruno Cunha, Phan Van Hieu, and Vu Xuan Tin to maintain match sharpness before the decisive battle. Notably, Bruno Cunha still has a chance to compete for the top scorer title, having scored 10 goals—just two behind leader Thaileon of Quy Nhon United.

Beyond professional factors, the upcoming clash also marks Bac Ninh's last home game at Viet Yen Stadium this season. A victory would allow the team to end their home campaign with complete joy as they receive the silver medal, while also providing a mental boost before the historic playoff. For Bac Ninh now, the goal is not just to achieve a favorable result but also to preserve their squad, ready for the decisive battle for the V.League dream.