The situation before the final round
After round 25 of V.League, the 3 bottom-ranked teams including Becamex HCMC, SHB Da Nang and PVF-CAND all have 21 points. According to the league regulations, these clubs are temporarily ranked according to goal difference. After the final round, in case of equal points, the direct head-to-head record between the related parties will be compared.
Da Nang is the team with the most advantage when they did not lose to PVF-CAND (drawing 2-2, winning 3-0) and Becamex TPHCM (winning 2-1, winning 3-0). Therefore, just defeating Thanh Hoa in the last round, coach Le Duc Tuan's team will stay in the league. Expanding further, in case of winning at least 1 of the 2 competing teams above, Da Nang will not be directly relegated.
Meanwhile, PVF-CAND did not beat Da Nang (2-2 draw, 0-3 loss), did not lose to Becamex TPHCM (2-1 win, 1-1 draw). This team is definitely safe if they have more points than Da Nang and are not inferior in points when competing with Becamex TPHCM.
In addition, PVF-CAND also avoids a direct relegation spot if they have equal or more points than Becamex TPHCM. At that time, Thanh Nhan and her teammates will play play-offs with Bac Ninh to compete for a relegation ticket to stay in the V.League next season.
Becamex HCMC has no right to self-determination. The Southern representative lost to Da Nang in both legs (1-2, 0-2) and did not win against PVF-CAND (lost 1-2, drew 1-1). Coach Hua Hien Vinh's team escaped danger if they had more points than Da Nang and PVF-CAND in the overall score.
In another scenario, when Becamex TP.CM has more points than 1 of the 2 teams mentioned above, they will play the relegation play-off match.
Still many surprises
V.League 2025-2026 will end in a not too surprising way if the predictable scenario is Da Nang staying in the league, PVF-CAND playing in the play-offs, and Becamex TPHCM relegation to the First Division. This is a story that football fans have analyzed and predicted throughout the past week.
However, football always contains unpredictable unknowns. 90 minutes of official time in round 26 of the V.League promise surprises that no team can foresee.
The main characters in the relegation race are not only 3 teams in the "red light" group, but also teams directly participating in the competition. Dong A Thanh Hoa, Song Lam Nghe An, Hoang Anh Gia Lai play the role of judges in the relegation situation of the season.
Becamex TPHCM and PVF-CAND are heading towards Thanh Hoa. The performance of the Thanh team can be seen as a necessary condition for these 2 clubs to ignite hope of relegation.
Of course, the task of winning points against SHB Da Nang is not easy for Thanh Hoa. They lost foreign players Odiljon Abdurakhmanov, Doan Ngoc Tan and Nguyen Van Tung for many different reasons. Besides, having to play at Chi Lang Stadium, against a winning opponent is also a significant challenge for Mr. Mai Xuan Hop's team.
However, Thanh Hoa is famous for being an unpredictable team. The developments in this season alone are enough to show that the representative of Thanh land is ready to surprise any opponent.
This is also what Nghe fans want to see at Song Lam Nghe An. Not being able to have the direction of head coach Van Sy Son in the final round is a disadvantage for the Central team when hosting PVF-CAND at home.
However, Nghe An players have the motivation not to give up in this competition, because they are talents who may be selected for Vietnamese national teams in the near future. Not to mention, PVF-CAND with a series of young national team players is a standard measure for the "young stars" on Song Lam Nghe An side to show themselves.
Another team, Hoang Anh Gia Lai, is also in high form in the final stage of the season. The 3-1 victory over Hanoi FC helped them successfully stay in the league for 1 round. However, coach Le Quang Trai and his students will not be lenient with Becamex TPHCM.
Because according to Bau Duc's philosophy, football needs to be frank and transparent. A positive result against Becamex TPHCM is an opportunity for the Mountain Town team to assert themselves with a beautiful playing style.
