Da Nang - SLNA: Coming to Hoa Xuan means aiming for victory.

With the return of key players like Van Khanh and Ba Sang after their suspensions, alongside Van Duc's consistent form, SLNA fans are thrilled by Xuan Manh's strong and effective return after his break due to Covid-19.

From his opening goal in the first leg of the friendly match against Hong Linh Ha Tinh (HLHT) to his brilliant performance against TQN, Xuan Manh's contributions have helped SLNA diversify its attacking and defensive strategies. He consistently threatened opponents on the right wing while also contributing to balance in attack, especially when Van Duc's left wing was tightly marked and ineffective as usual.

Coach Ngo Quang Truong and his team are full of confidence heading into the match at Hoa Xuan Stadium. Photo: Duc Anh

WhenXuan Manh's contributions to both attack and defense.With fluid movements down the right wing and sharp passes, SLNA had the opportunity to exploit the goal-scoring abilities of their foreign duo, Bruno and Peter. Bruno's goal secured three points against TQN, thus not only ending the foreign players' goal drought but also creating momentum and confidence for the entire team ahead in the challenging journey, including the confrontation with their long-time rival Da Nang, a team that had won all three of their opening matches but suffered their first defeat after the match against T. Binh Dinh at Quy Nhon Stadium in round 4 (March 19).

Interestingly, both teams have "insiders" in the upcoming match: SLNA's center-back Jelic previously played for Da Nang last season, while defender Dinh Hoang and midfielder Ngoc Toan transferred from SLNA to Da Nang. However, with Da Nang's strong squad reinforcements, Jelic's ability to "read" his former team and help SLNA neutralize their opponent is unlikely. Furthermore, the former SLNA players at Da Nang will likely be playing professionally against their former teammates (now rivals) in the title race for Da Nang, a team that has received significant investment and aims to compete on equal footing with V.League powerhouses like Hanoi, Viettel, and Ho Chi Minh City.

Phan Văn Đức and his teammates just had a great match. Photo: Đức Anh

The unexpected loss to newly promoted T. Binh Dinh will make Coach Huynh Duc's team even more determined in their clash with SLNA. Notably, in Da Nang's three wins, both at home and away, all were narrow 1-0 victories, with goals scored by Duc Chinh (against TP. HCM), Rafaelson (against TQN, away), and Kebe (against HLHT). Two of the goals came from central attacks with assists from Van Long and Anh Tuan, while the other was from a set piece, capitalizing on a scramble in the opponent's penalty area.

This shows that Huynh Duc's team is quite solid defensively, flexible in midfield, and possesses the attacking prowess of their foreign players, especially Rafaelson. In the recent match against T. Binh Dinh, Anh Tuan underperformed, and Huy Hung's substitution didn't improve the visitors' defensive and offensive capabilities. This could be an opportunity for SLNA to neutralize the midfield, as Sy Sam and Dinh Chau played quite well in the match against TQN, significantly limiting the threats to their defense. It's also worth mentioning that despite the narrow 1-0 victory, the home team at Hoa Xuan Stadium struggled against the tenacious and aggressive HLHT team.

All the "data" mentioned above is, of course, only for reference, and what can be reassuring is that historically, when playing in Da Nang, SLNA's team has always confidently given their all in every play and consistently achieved positive results. Not to mention the "tradition" of the financially struggling SLNA team: whenever they face a wealthy and boisterous team, they play like they're possessed, as if it's the only way!

Hopefully, the match at Hoa Xuan Stadium this spring will be a draw, avoiding a repeat of the defeat suffered by the second team from Nghe An, following the resilient HLHT and the resurgent SLNA?