6 teams can win the top spot in round 6 of V.League

Close quarters

At the end of round 5 of V.League 2024-2025 last weekend, there were some changes in the rankings to create a tight race at both ends of the rankings. In the direct match between the top two teams, Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Dong A Thanh Hoa at Pleiku Stadium, the goal in the extra minutes kept the away team 1 point (1-1) as well as the top position (10 points), but for the home team (9 points), they lost the 2nd position.

Because The Cong Viettel - the post-Hoang Duc era, had a 1-0 win over Becamex Binh Duong. Coach Duc Thang's team currently also has 10 points like Thanh Hoa but the goal difference is worse (only scored 6 goals/5 matches). Hong Linh Ha Tinh is "stepping steadily" like Hoang Anh Gia Lai (won 2 matches then drew 3 consecutive matches) to have the same 9 points.

Hong Linh Ha Tinh's most recent draw was against Hanoi FC, allowing the capital's representative to have 8 points and maintain 6th place, while being surpassed by their city rival, Cong An Ha Noi, who jumped from 8th to 5th after a 3-0 win at Thep Xanh Nam Dinh Stadium. The defending champion currently has 7 points, like Binh Duong, ranked 8th. Although the gap with the leading team is only 3 points, experts believe that the journey to defend the championship of the team at Thien Truong Stadium will be full of thorns. Rafaelson has successfully naturalized with the name Nguyen Xuan Son, but the team from Thanh Nam has only scored 5 goals in 5 matches and the same number of goals conceded.

Will the top position change?

With a 2-point gap between the top team and the 6th-placed team, round 6 this weekend opens up the possibility of a change in the top position. Although returning to their home field, coach Velizar Popov's team has to face Hanoi FC. Hanoi FC's current form may not be stable, and Thanh Hoa won both times they met in Thanh Hoa (2-0 in the V.League and won after a penalty shootout in the National Cup), but they are still a high-quality team to be able to take at least 1 point.

And when Thanh Hoa stumbles, the next opportunity will be for Viettel, when the military team visits Quang Nam. After 2 consecutive losses at the beginning of the season, Quang Nam has played more solidly to gain 5 points from 3 matches (1 win, 2 draws), but there are still many difficulties because they have only scored 3 goals - only more than Ho Chi Minh City club. The Cong is in good shape and can return with 3 points and the top position in the table.

Or if The Cong also stumbles, the opportunity will come to Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Hong Linh Ha Tinh. But the team from the mountain town will need to win at Binh Duong, and coach Nguyen Thanh Cong and his team must get 3 points against Quy Nhon Binh Dinh. Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Hong Linh Ha Tinh are the two remaining teams that have not lost.

Hanoi Police must also win - and are likely to win - against SHB Da Nang, in the second consecutive week of playing the latest match of the round. Of course, coach Mano Polking needs to have the additional condition that the other opponents win or draw to "rise to the top". But even if they do not make it in this round, they still have the ability to continue to improve their ranking and wait for the next opportunity.

Nam Dinh also has the potential to enter the competition group when playing away at Hai Phong - one of three teams (along with Da Nang and Song Lam Nghe An) that have not won a single match. From the bottom position of Song Lam Nghe An to the 9th position of Quang Nam is only 2 points, so any team that gets points will create chaos in the bottom group.