Tran Tien
Football Tribe Vietnam
Aside from the “title-decider” match between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Round 18 of V.League will be crucial at the other end of the table as well, as some of the league’s established teams continue to fight ferociously for their place in the division.
Bottom club Sanna Khanh Hoa welcome Than Quang Ninh in the match they need to win. If they can not achieve the full three pts, Vo Dinh Tan’s side drop to the first division is almost confirmed, as they will be trailing by five points in the division’s only automatic relegation slot.
The team which finishes 13th will be forced to participate in a play-off to retain their place in the division, and the race to escape that predicament is also very complicated.
At least in theory, the team at the fourth place, Thanh Hoa, can also mathematically drop to 13th place, as they sit on 25 points, only seven above current 13th place side Quang Nam.
The distance is not too far and since the league still has nine rounds remaining, many teams could get dragged into the thick of it. Each team in this zone could drop into the danger zone with just two or three losses on the bounce. Conversely, any run of wins could relieve a team and help them climb up the table.
This week, the match to watch in the relegation battle will be taken place in Hang Day stadium. Hosts Viettel welcome Quang Nam FC.
Viettel will have 8 points lead over Quang Nam if they can win, but a loss would mean that they are only two points ahead of the central Vietnam club.
In this match, Viettel will have their full strength squad while Quang Nam will have without important player Nguyen Hong Son due to suspension.