Will the top spot change hands, and can HAGL break into the top 5?

Will HAGL make a comeback?

The 1-2 defeat against The Cong Viettel FC caused HAGL to drop two places, to eighth position in the standings. However, this was a predictable loss for coach Le Quang Trai's team.

The squad crisis forced the team from the mountainous region to use many young players (HAGL's current squad is the youngest in V-League), coupled with the consistent form of The Cong Viettel, HAGL was unable to pull off an upset.

V-League standings before round 13

However, returning to their "fortress" in Pleiku will give HAGL a chance to regain their winning streak. Chau Ngoc Quang and his teammates remain undefeated at home since the start of the season with 2 wins and 3 draws (earning 9 out of a possible 15 points). HAGL has already beaten Hanoi Police FC, and drawn with Nam Dinh and Thanh Hoa at their familiar home ground.

With the advantage of Pleiku's high altitude and a pitch perfectly suited to deploying their signature counter-attacking style, HAGL is turning their home ground into a difficult place to visit. Their opponent in this match is also a suitable one for the team from the mountain town to aim for three points: Binh Dinh FC.

Binh Dinh FC no longer possesses the distinctive and aggressive playing style that led them to the runner-up position last season. A squad crisis, with many key players leaving, has reduced coach Bui Doan Quang Huy's team to a mid-table side in the V-League. Three losses in their last four matches, including a 1-2 defeat against bottom-placed Da Nang, is a serious warning sign for the team from Binh Dinh.

Will HAGL return to the top group?

If Binh Dinh FC doesn't improve its form, it will be difficult for them to leave HAGL with any points. For the home team HAGL, this is a golden opportunity to secure all three points, thereby potentially finishing the first half of the season in the top 5 or top 6. The match between Binh Dinh FC and HAGL will take place at 5 PM on February 16th.

The top spot is easily changed hands.

Nam Dinh FC leads the table with 24 points, but it's worth remembering that coach Vu Hong Viet's team has played two more matches than the teams behind them.

Thanh Hoa FC is currently second with 22 points, and if they defeat hosts Ho Chi Minh City FC in the match at 7:15 PM on February 14th, coach Velizar Popov's team will reclaim the top spot. The defeat in the Southeast Asian Champions League still has a positive aspect, as it allows Thanh Hoa FC to fully focus on the V-League.

Despite a poor performance in the Southeast Asian tournament (winning only 1 out of 5 matches), Thanh Hoa FC has been playing exceptionally well in the V-League this season. Doan Ngoc Tan and his teammates have defeated both Hanoi Police FC and The Cong Viettel FC, and drawn with Hanoi FC and Nam Dinh FC. The Thanh Hoa team remains a formidable opponent in the domestic league with a 10-match unbeaten streak, thanks to a playing style that has been meticulously developed by coach Popov. Compared to the inconsistent Ho Chi Minh City FC, Thanh Hoa FC is more than capable of securing all three points to reclaim the top spot.

Will Thanh Hoa FC find joy again in the V-League?

Viettel Sports Club also had a clear chance of winning when they visited Da Nang FC's stadium at 6 PM on February 14th at Tam Ky Stadium (which Da Nang FC borrowed from Quang Nam FC). However, Da Nang FC bounced back after defeating Binh Dinh 2-1 in the previous round, securing their first victory of the season. The former V-League champions will do everything they can to remain in the V-League.

In the remaining matches, SLNA will face Hai Phong at 6 PM on February 15th at Vinh Stadium. This is a "relegation battle" where the losing team will sink deeper into the mire. Hanoi Police FC will host Quang Nam at home at 7:15 PM on February 15th, while Binh Duong will clash with Ha Tinh at 6 PM on February 16th. If Ha Tinh manages to get at least one point against Binh Duong, they will achieve their first-ever unbeaten run in the first half of the V-League season.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lich-thi-dau-vong-13-v-league-ngoi-dau-lieu-doi-chu-hagl-cong-pha-noi-top-5-185250212212004489.htm