HAGL faces challenges as Fraga temporarily leaves the team due to family funeral

Hoang Anh Gia Lai confirmed that key foreign player Fraga temporarily left the team for family reasons. Coach Le Quang Trai said that after the 2-2 draw with Nam Dinh at Pleiku Stadium in round 9 of V-League 2025/2026, Fraga flew back to Brazil to mourn his father and is expected to return soon. In the context that HAGL only has 7 points after 8 matches (played 1 match less) and is ranked 13th, this is a big challenge at a stage when the team needs points.

Fraga temporarily leaves the team due to family matters

“Unfortunately, a few days ago, foreign player Fraga’s father passed away. He had to fly back to Brazil to attend the funeral. Fraga really wanted to see his father one last time, and even though the team is in a difficult period, the coaching staff still agreed to let him return home. Hopefully, Fraga will return soon and wholeheartedly prepare for Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s upcoming matches,” coach Le Quang Trai shared.

The player born in 1997 is a versatile defensive midfielder, who can also play as a center back when needed. His strong playing style, good fighting ability and good physical strength help Fraga become a pillar in HAGL's defensive structure.

Tactical gap in midfield

Not only is he an “anchor” in front of the defense, Fraga is also an important stopper in defensive transitions. His absence puts HAGL at risk of losing stability in the following situations:

• Covering the central defenders, blocking the central spaces when the opponent counter-attacks.
• Compete for the second beat and recover the ball on the edge of the penalty area, limit long shots.
• Adjust position to form a 3-man structure at the bottom of the defense when extra safety is needed.

In the short term, the coaching staff’s task is to maintain cohesion between the two lines. This requires tighter team spacing, reducing the risk of exposing the inside lane, and organizing a moderately risky pressing to compensate for the “physical and competitive” part that Fraga is usually responsible for.

2-2 draw with Nam Dinh, pressure on scores has not cooled down

The 2-2 draw with Nam Dinh in round 9 showed that HAGL still maintained their fighting spirit in a difficult period, but the pressure on points remained. According to the update, the team from the Mountain City has 7 points after 8 matches (playing 1 match less than other teams) and is ranked 13th on the V-League 2025/2026 rankings, facing the risk of relegation like in recent seasons.

In this type of competition, every mistake in midfield is magnified. The presence of a physical, competitive defensive midfielder like Fraga is often a “shock absorber” for the defense. Without that piece, HAGL needs to organize a tight defense, prioritizing space control instead of concentrating troops on risky pressing.

Waiting for Fraga to return

Fraga is expected to return in the next few days. At that time, HAGL hopes to re-establish a familiar defensive structure, more stable in the first phase of losing the ball and improve the quality of midfield disputes. In the context of points being the priority, having a "support" in the midfield can help the Pleiku home team overcome the difficult period and improve the ranking.

Highlights

• Fraga temporarily left HAGL because he returned to Brazil to mourn his father.
• Coach Le Quang Trai confirmed and hopes he will return soon.
• HAGL drew 2-2 with Nam Dinh in round 9; had 7 points/8 matches, ranked 13th.
• Without Fraga, HAGL lacks a "shield" in the midfield and defensive transition.