The V-League is breathtaking with its dramatic races.

Besides the celebration of Hanoi Police FC's championship title, the results of Round 25 of the V-League 2025-2026 also determined the 11 teams that successfully avoided relegation.

Round 25 of the V-League 2025-2026 concluded with some surprising results. Hoang Anh Gia Lai officially secured their place in the league after a convincing victory over Hanoi , while Thanh Hoa achieved their goal despite a heavy defeat against Ninh Binh.

The three teams at the bottom of the table have the same number of points.

The intensity of the 2025-2026 V-League season is now concentrated at the bottom of the table. After round 25, an unusual scenario has emerged where the three bottom teams – Becamex Ho Chi Minh City,SHB Da Nang, and PVF-CAND – all have 21 points, pushing the relegation battle into a tense and nail-biting state.

Rarely has a season seen such a precarious balance between survival and relegation. A single goal, an individual error, or a referee's decision could completely change the fate of the three teams teetering on the brink.

Currently, SHB Da Nang holds the biggest advantage, sitting in 12th place thanks to a better goal difference. The team from the Han River has "revived" in the final stages with a streak of 4 unbeaten matches, including 2 wins. Notably, Da Nang has shown the strongest fighting spirit among the bottom group. They don't possess a superior squad but have plenty of confidence in this crucial stage. That's why the team playing at Chi Lang Stadium still retains control of their own destiny before the final round.

Meanwhile, Becamex Ho Chi Minh City is the most unfortunate case. The team from Binh Duong had at times created a safe distance, considered the strongest contender to avoid relegation, but they repeatedly squandered their advantage. Their 1-2 home defeat against Hanoi Police in round 25 plunged them deeper into the relegation zone.

Becamex Ho Chi Minh City (center) is languishing at the bottom of the league table. (Photo: VPF)

Nevertheless, Becamex TP HCM still has a significant advantage as they will play their final match at home against Hoang Anh Gia Lai. The team from the mountainous region has already achieved their goal of avoiding relegation, so the pressure to perform well is no longer too great. If they take advantage of this opportunity, the team at Go Dau Stadium can completely save themselves without having to wait for results from other matches.

In the bottom group, PVF-CAND faced the most pressure, always considered a direct relegation candidate. However, their 3-1 victory against Hai Phong in round 25 helped them close the points gap with the two teams above them. From being left behind, PVF-CAND unexpectedly became a direct competitor for survival alongside Da Nang and Becamex Ho Chi Minh City.

PVF-CAND no longer has control over their own destiny in the final round. Coach Tran Tien Dai's team has a goal difference of -20, trailing the two teams above them by 6 and 10 goals respectively. This means they not only need to win in the final round but also hope their rivals slip up to avoid relegation.

Who won the runner-up title?

Hanoi Police FC became the "new champions" of the V-League 2025-2026 three rounds early, but the runner-up position is still undecided. Their defeat against Hoang Anh Gia Lai in round 25 eliminated Hanoi FC from the race for the runner-up title this season, as they trail The Cong Viettel by 6 points.

Viettel FC, who were in a strong position to secure the runner-up spot, unexpectedly dropped points against weaker opponents, allowing Ninh Binh FC to close the gap. The team from the ancient capital of Hoa Lu is now 3 points behind Viettel FC, but they no longer have control over their own destiny. Therefore, Ninh Binh not only needs to win their final match but also hopes Viettel FC loses in order to secure the V-League runner-up position and a ticket to the AFC Champions League Two next season.

In round 26, Ninh Binh will host Ha Tinh at home and is predicted to win all 3 points as their opponent has no more objectives to play for.

Meanwhile, The Cong Viettel will face Hanoi Police at Hang Day Stadium. If Ninh Binh wins and The Cong loses in round 26, both teams will have 51 points. In that case, based on tie-breaking criteria, Ninh Binh will finish as runner-up.

Becamex TP HCM's biggest problem is its inconsistency; they can play very well against strong opponents but then drop points in crucial matches. This inconsistency has cost the team dearly in the final stages of the season.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/v-league-nghet-tho-with-thrilling-races-196260601201407193.htm