Final Round of LPBank V-League 2025/26: Spotlight on the Survival Battle

At 6:00 PM on June 7, all LPBank V-League 2025/26 stadiums will light up at the same time for the final round of the season. Even though the title has been claimed early and several spots in the upper half are mostly determined, Round 26 still guarantees heart-stopping excitement because of the intense relegation battle, which is among the most tense in years.

The focus of the final round is not on the championship race but entirely on the bottom of the table, where SHB Đà Nẵng, Becamex TP.HCM, and PVF CAND each have 21 points after 25 rounds. A single match, or even a single mistake, can decide the fate of a club's entire season and perhaps even its future.

The results of Round 25 have pushed the survival battle into its most captivating scenario. Three teams share the same points, but differences lie in goal difference and, notably, head-to-head records. Among them, SHB Đà Nẵng currently holds the biggest advantage. The team from the Han River not only has the best goal difference (-10) but also dominates the head-to-head record among the bottom three with 10 points. This gives them control over their own destiny heading into the final round.

In contrast to SHB Đà Nẵng, Becamex TP.HCM finds itself in the toughest position. Although they currently sit above PVF CAND thanks to a superior goal difference (-14 compared to -20), if head-to-head results come into play, coach Hứa Hiền Vinh's team is completely at a disadvantage.

Becamex TP.HCM has earned only one point from all meetings with SHB Đà Nẵng and PVF CAND throughout the season. This means that if the teams are level on points after Round 26, Becamex TP.HCM will almost certainly be the one to suffer.

Therefore, even though they play at home against HAGL, the team from Thủ Dầu Một does not have full control over their own fate. A win against the Mountain City club is mandatory, but that alone is not enough. Coach Hứa Hiền Vinh's squad must also hope that at least one of their direct rivals, SHB Đà Nẵng or PVF CAND, drops points in order to escape relegation.

Theoretically, all three bottom teams face opponents who have already achieved their season objectives. SHB Đà Nẵng hosts Thanh Hóa, Becamex TP.HCM meets HAGL, and PVF CAND travels to face SLNA. These are all teams that have officially secured their top-flight status and no longer have much motivation in terms of performance.

This factor leads many to believe that the relegation race has almost been decided before kickoff. When opponents have no clear goals, the chances for the three bottom clubs to earn points are very high.

However, looking deeper, SHB Đà Nẵng remains the most promising team, as they both play at home and have a significant head-to-head advantage. As long as they beat Thanh Hóa, the team from the Han River will stay in the V-League without caring about any other results.

Meanwhile, PVF CAND is a rather unique phenomenon this season. Statistics show they are the weakest team in the league in terms of quality. After 25 rounds, Thanh Nhàn and his teammates have won only 4 matches, drawn 9, and lost 12. Their attack has scored just 23 goals, among the poorest in the competition. Nevertheless, PVF CAND still has a chance to survive thanks to the tied points at the bottom.

Besides the relegation battle, the final round also features notable developments in the medal race. The win over Thanh Hóa in the previous round allowed Ninh Bình to surpass Hà Nội FC and move into third place. Now, the ancient capital team needs just one more point against Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh to guarantee a top-three finish.

Moreover, coach Chu Đình Nghiêm's team even has a chance to compete for the runner-up spot if they defeat Hà Tĩnh and Thể Công Viettel loses to the new champions, CAHN. With consistent form and the arrival of coach Chu Đình Nghiêm, Ninh Bình stands on the verge of making history.

On the flip side, Hà Nội FC faces the risk of falling out of the top three for the first time since 2010. The loss to HAGL in Pleiku cost the capital club their advantage, handing it to Ninh Bình. If they cannot defeat CATP.HCM in the final round, another disappointing season will end for the most decorated team in the V-League.

The race for the top five is also set to be exciting. CATP.HCM currently leads Nam Định by just one point. While CATP.HCM travels to face Hà Nội FC, Nam Định, fueled by Xuân Son's scoring desire, has a great opportunity to win against Hải Phòng, a team that has had little to play for in many previous rounds.