Hanoi FC is in the race for the top 3.

Hanoi FC is making a strong comeback in the race for the top 3.

The victory against Da Nang in round 21 helped the capital city team break into the top 3 and continue to put pressure on their direct competitors.

After 21 rounds, Hanoi FC is currently in 3rd place, 4 points behind the top 2. To achieve their goal of securing one of the top two positions in the 2025-2026 V-League season, the capital city team needs to accumulate the maximum number of points in the remaining 5 rounds.

Hanoi FC (left) will maintain their top 3 position if they defeat Thanh Hoa in round 22 of the V-League 2025-2026. Photo: VPF

Despite their current strong form, Hanoi FC is expected to face a tough challenge when they travel to Thanh Hoa for Round 22 of the V-League 2025-2026 at 6 PM on May 9th (FPT Play). With the goal of maximizing points at home to secure their survival in the league, Thanh Hoa could potentially spring a surprise against Hanoi FC.

Thanh Hoa Football Club faces significant risks from the second half of the 2025-2026 V-League season. Coach Mai Xuan Hop's team has suffered serious personnel losses due to a lack of operating funds, and only by successfully avoiding relegation in the V-League can they hope to find new sponsors and restore their position in the next season. The draw against Becamex Ho Chi Minh City in the previous round extended Thanh Hoa's unbeaten streak to three matches, temporarily moving them up to 11th place with 21 points. The seven-point lead over the bottom two teams has somewhat eased the pressure, but the threat of relegation still looms large. Therefore, every point at this stage is extremely important for the Thanh Hoa team.

Thanh Hoa's biggest advantage is playing at home and their gradually improving fighting spirit. The team usually plays with great intensity when supported by their fans and has previously caused many difficulties for big teams with their aggressive, physically demanding style of play.

However, the attacking problem remains a concern for Thanh Hoa FC, as their goal-scoring performance is inconsistent due to the absence of foreign player Rimario Gordon. This key striker suddenly resigned, leaving Thanh Hoa FC just before Round 19 of the V-League 2025-2026.

Compared to Thanh Hoa, Hanoi FC possesses a superior squad with a wealth of experienced national team players. Names like Nguyen Van Quyet, Pham Tuan Hai, Nguyen Hai Long, Do Hoang Hen, and Do Hung Dung... still form a core group with the ability to make a difference and decide a match with just a moment of brilliance.

The head-to-head history also favors the capital city team. In the last five encounters, Thanh Hoa has only won one match against Hanoi. In their meeting earlier this season, the capital city team even came from behind to defeat Thanh Hoa with a score of 2-1.

Hanoi FC is only one point ahead of Ninh Binh in the standings. Therefore, the top 3 positions could change after round 22, as Ninh Binh is likely to win their match against Hai Phong at 6 PM on May 9th (FPT Play).

Source: https://nld.com.vn/clb-ha-noi-dua-top-3-196260508204317154.htm