The relegation race heats up V.League

The V.League 2024/25 relegation race is dramatic until the final rounds - Photo: VPF .

V.League 2024/25 is entering the final rounds, but the situation at the bottom of the table has not yet been decided. Unlike every previous season, this year's relegation race has become more fierce than ever when 4 teams from the Central region including SLNA, Quang Nam, Da Nang and Binh Dinh are competing directly for the right to stay in the number one tournament in Vietnam.

Currently, only Ha Tinh is the only representative of the Central region that has officially stayed in the league. Meanwhile, the remaining 4 teams are facing the risk of relegation when the point gap between them is very fragile. After a 2-2 draw with HAGL in the early match of round 24, Da Nang has 21 points, once again pushing Binh Dinh to the bottom of the rankings. However, Da Nang's advantage is not clear because the team from the land of Nau has played 2 fewer matches. If they take advantage of this, Binh Dinh can completely escape spectacularly.

However, the story is not only about the score gap. In round 24, Quang Nam will face Ha Tinh. In case the Red Mountain team shows the attitude of a team that has no goal, Quang Nam will have a great chance to win all 3 points, thereby gaining a significant advantage in the journey to win a ticket to stay in the tournament.

That could be an important stepping stone for Quang Nam to temporarily rise up, creating psychological momentum before facing Nam Dinh in the next round. The Quang Nam team also hopes that Nam Dinh will soon be crowned champion if they win against SLNA and Hanoi cannot defeat CAHN. At that time, Nam Dinh will no longer have much motivation in round 25, and the match against HAGL in the final round may only be a formality, opening up more opportunities for Quang Nam to complete the relegation target.

Although Binh Dinh is at the bottom of the table, it has an advantage in the number of matches - Photo: Binh Dinh FC.

Meanwhile, SLNA, although ranked 11th with 23 points, is the team facing the most danger. SLNA's schedule in the last 3 rounds is a real "nightmare". After Nam Dinh in round 24, they will have to face HAGL and Da Nang, two opponents who are also struggling in the bottom group. If they lose to Nam Dinh and do not get any points in the remaining two matches, SLNA can completely be leveled with the bottom group. The direct confrontation with Da Nang in round 26 will most likely be the "reverse final" to determine the ticket to relegation or play-off.

Another point worth noting is the influence of teams that no longer have a goal. Subjectivity or resignation from teams that have been relegated or have lost hope of winning the championship can change the situation in an unexpected direction. In this context, courage and motivation become key factors in determining survival.

V.League this season has 1.5 relegation spots. That makes the battle more suffocating when not only the goal of staying in the league but also avoiding the play-off position is a huge pressure. Every point is now as valuable as gold, and every smallest mistake can cost the whole season.

The heat from the bottom group promises to last until the final round. There, every goal, every dispute will be decisive. A season that was predicted to be “calm” by many people has turned into a storm for the bottom group. Now they are not only fighting for achievements but also for the honor and existence of an entire football region rich in tradition.

Source: https://znews.vn/cuoc-dua-tru-hang-khien-vleague-nong-len-post1555398.html