HAGL still faces a 'chasm' ahead, and Chairman Duc will not be happy if…

The team from the mountainous region is currently in a rather dangerous position in the V-League standings. Therefore, HAGL is forced to change in order to remain in the top tier of Vietnamese football.

The remaining journey is very difficult.

After round 19 of the V-League 2025-2026, HAGL has 18 points, only 6 points more than bottom-placed Da Nang . This point difference is not too large and could easily be closed or even surpassed in the coming days. Therefore, HAGL must improve its performance to avoid falling further behind in the relegation battle.

HAGL has been going through a difficult period in recent rounds.

Photo: Dong Nghi

The upcoming rounds could be pivotal for the team from the mountainous region. Compared to the period just before, HAGL's opponents in the upcoming consecutive rounds are considerably easier. In rounds 17, 18, and 19, HAGL had to face very strong teams, including Ninh Binh (lost 1-2), Nam Dinh (won 2-1), and The Cong Viettel (lost 0-1). The fact that the team from the mountainous region earned 3 points from those 3 matches is not a bad result.

However, they need to do better in the following rounds. In round 20, HAGL will host Hai Phong at home, and in round 21 they will play away at SLNA. In round 22, the team from Pleiku will host PVF-CAND at home, and then they will face Ha Tinh, also at home in Pleiku, in round 23. Next, in round 24, HAGL will play away against Thanh Hoa.

Among the aforementioned teams, only Hai Phong is stronger than HAGL. However, the difference between the two sides is not too great; at least Hai Phong is not as strong as Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh, and The Cong Viettel. Therefore, goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien and his teammates can breathe easier. As for the matches against SLNA, PVF-CAND, Ha Tinh, and Thanh Hoa, which are teams in the lower half of the table with only average strength, HAGL will have more tactical options when facing these teams.

HAGL needs more tactical options.

For example, Coach Le Quang Trai's team could play more offensively, and HAGL's attacking players like Marciel Silva, Junior Batista, Minh Tam, Gia Bao, etc., would have more space to operate, thereby improving their goal-scoring record and that of the entire team.

Foreign player Marciel Silva (right) is key in HAGL's attack.

Photo: Minh Tran

With two foreign players, Marciel Silva and Junior Batista, they have performed quite well in the recent rounds. Marciel Silva is technically skilled and possesses good tactical awareness. Junior Batista, on the other hand, is fast, has good attacking prowess, and decent finishing skills. They haven't been able to fully utilize their potential in the matches against Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh, and The Cong Viettel because the opponents were too strong, constantly pressing HAGL and leaving the attacking players, including Marciel Silva and Junior Batista, starved of the ball. When HAGL faces weaker opponents, these players will no longer be isolated as they were.

Having successfully resolved the aforementioned matches, HAGL may not need to worry about the clash with Hanoi FC in round 25, because if the team from the mountainous region achieves good results in the following consecutive rounds, from round 20 to round 24, they may already be safe from relegation in the V-League.

While relegation might not be a major concern, if HAGL were to be relegated to the First Division next season, Chairman Duc would probably be unhappy!

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hagl-phia-truoc-van-la-vuc-tham-bau-duc-se-chang-vui-neu-185260420220107554.htm