Final round of V-League 2024-2025: The end of the relegation race

SHB Da Nang (blue shirt) and Quy Nhon Binh Dinh will both have to "stretch their muscles" in the final round to hold on to their hope of staying in the V-League. (Photo: VPF)

After Nam Dinh Blue Steel successfully defended the title in the previous round, the focus of round 26 - the final round of the 2024-2025 V-League National Championship taking place at 5:00 p.m. tomorrow, June 22, will be the relegation battle, where 3 teams, Quang Nam (25 points), SHB Da Nang (22 points) and Quy Nhon Binh Dinh (21 points) must "burn" themselves out to continue playing in the highest division of Vietnamese Football next season.

Quang Nam is 3 points ahead of the second-to-last team, Da Nang . However, if the two teams have the same number of points after round 26, coach Van Sy Son and his team will be ranked behind their opponents and have to play a relegation play-off, because although the two teams tied in the head-to-head score in the two matches (Quang Nam won 3-2 at home and lost 0-1 in the second leg), Da Nang was the team that scored more away goals in the two matches.

However, Quang Nam still holds the right to self-determination when they only need to gain 1 more point in the match against the home team Hoang Anh Gia Lai (28 points, ranked 9th) - the team that has officially stayed in the league - for coach Van Sy Son's team to officially stay in the league and avoid the risk of having to "fight" in the play-off match.

Quang Nam (in blue) will stay in the league if they get points on Hoang Anh Gia Lai's field. (Photo: VPF)

For SHB Da Nang, coach Le Duc Tuan's team needs to win all 3 points against Song Lam Nghe An (a team that has stayed in the league and will likely let its key players rest to prepare for the National Cup) to avoid finishing at the bottom of the table (direct relegation).

At that time, Da Nang will officially stay in the league if Quang Nam loses in the match at the same time. Conversely, if Quang Nam gets points in the final round, Da Nang will have to play a play-off with the First Division team.

In case of equal points with Quy Nhon Binh Dinh, Da Nang will still be ranked above the opponent due to better head-to-head record (winning against Binh Dinh with scores of 2-1 and 3-1 in both home and away matches).

SHB Da Nang (orange shirt) needs to win points against Song Lam Nghe An to avoid direct relegation. (Photo: VPF)

As for Quy Nhon Binh Dinh, the runner-up of last season's V-League, they have no right to decide and only have a chance to win a play-off spot, in case they win against Hanoi FC in the final round and Da Nang cannot win 3 points in the match at the same time.

The final round of V-League 2024-2025 will also determine the Bronze medal winner, when the two teams competing for the third place overall, Hanoi Police (42 points) and The Cong-Viettel (41 points), will host Hai Phong (35 points) and Ho Chi Minh City Club (28 points), respectively.

In the remaining two matches: "new king" Thep Xanh Nam Dinh will receive the championship trophy at home when welcoming Hong Linh Ha Tinh (36 points); while Becamex Binh Duong (29 points, ranked 8th) and Dong A Thanh Hoa (31 points, ranked 7th) both strive to gain points to end the season with a position in the top half of the rankings./.