Despite their home-field advantage, SLNA are not so highly regarded ahead of the match due to their poor run over recent matchdays. The two-time champions have now gone five league games without a victory, earning only two draws and three losses.
SLNA succumbed to defeats against Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Nam Dinh FC in their last two matchdays, which pushed them down to ninth position in the table with 23 points after 18 clashes.
Despite their best defensive lineup this season (conceding just 18 goals), the problem for Nguyen Duc Thang’s troops now lies in their weak attacking lineup, with a modest tally of 17 goals after 18 matches (just nearly one goal per clash on average). Therefore, the return of foreign striker Olaha, one of the club’s top scorers, is strongly hoped to help strengthen SLNA’s offensive power and inspire them towards the first triumph of the V.League second leg.
In contrast to SLNA’s falling form, opponents Viettel are showing positive signs with four points in two games, beating Sanna Khanh Hoa BVN and drawing with former champions Quang Nam FC. These encouraging results will be a source of confidence for the V.League newbies in their upcoming trip to Vinh Stadium.
Another headline grabber of matchday 19 will be Hanoi FC’s receipt of Becamex Binh Duong at Hang Day Stadium August 3. This will be the second meeting between them within only four days. Earlier on July 31, the two sides clashed in the first leg of the 2019 AFC Cup’s ASEAN zonal final, during which Hanoi FC managed to clinch a 1-0 victory thanks to captain Nguyen Van Quyet’s successful penalty rebound.
Hanoi FC beat Becamex Binh Duong 1-0 in their latest meeting in the first leg of the 2019 AFC Cup ASEAN zonal final thanks to a penalty rebound from striker Nguyen Van Quyet (centre).
Although Chu Dinh Nghiem’s side are currently in a bad form as they continuously dropped victories in the last minutes over recent matchdays, the reigning champions always deliver brilliant displays on home field. Therefore, Hanoi FC are standing a big chance of bagging the full three points against Becamex Binh Duong tomorrow.
Nam Dinh FC will host Hoang Anh Gia Lai at Thien Truong Stadium in a centre-stage meeting of matchday 19. Nam Dinh have transformed themselves spectacularly compared to the same period last season. Nguyen Van Dung’s side have performed impressively at home, clinching seven wins, one draw and just one loss in their last nine matches at Thien Truong – the second best home-field record among the 14 V.League participants, only behind SHB Da Nang.
A series of tough opponents, including Hanoi FC, Thanh Hoa FC, SHB Da Nang and SLNA, were forced to return empty-handed from their trips to Nam Dinh FC. Despite their flying form with two consecutive victories over SLNA and Thanh Hoa, Hoang Anh Gia Lai will have to overcome the huge pressure created by a large crowd of crazy supporters on the stands if they do not want to become the next victim at Thien Truong.
Saigon FC are hoping to end an eight-game winless run this weekend, as they travel to Hai Phong FC, who are showing rocky form losing 0-2 against Becamex Binh Duong despite clinching two consecutive wins in the previous two matchdays.
Leaders Ho Chi Minh City are expected to hardly break a sweat to snatch the full three points against bottom-place Sanna Khanh Hoa BVN, as the two sides clash at Thong Nhat Stadium on August 4. Thanh Hoa FC are also predicted to have an easy away match against second-from-bottom Quang Nam FC.
The 2019 V.League table ahead of matchday 19.
