A challenging schedule awaits SLNA

According to the schedule of the V.League 2019 Organizing Committee, from round 8 to round 12 (May 5-31), SLNA will meet Viettel, Hai Phong, Sanna Khanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City Club and Saigon in turn. These are all strong teams, considered difficult to play against or have been in good form recently. Obviously, the journey ahead for coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his team is extremely difficult and full of pitfalls.

First is the away match at Hang Day Stadium of Viettel, taking place on the afternoon of May 5. Although the army team is just a rookie in V.League 2019, the strength of coach Lee Heung-sil and his team cannot be underestimated. In the hands of the Korean strategist are a series of quality faces, typically Que Ngoc Hai, Bui Tien Dung, Vu Minh Tuan, Nguyen Hoang Duc...

Viettel is a team with strength and ambition. Photo: zing.vn

After the initial difficulties, Viettel is gradually catching up with the most prestigious tournament in Vietnamese football. In the last round, Vu Minh Tuan and his teammates won convincingly with a score of 2-0 against Quang Nam right at Tam Ky stadium. Currently, coach Lee Heung-sil's team is temporarily ranked 7th with 9 points in hand.

Right after the away match against Viettel, coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his team will visit Lach Tray Stadium of Hai Phong in round 9 (May 12). Recently, Hai Phong has been one of the most difficult opponents for the Nghe An team, especially when they play at home. Besides, the current form of coach Truong Viet Hoang and his team is also at a quite high level.

Before round 8, Hai Phong was ranked 5th with a record of 4 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses. In round 7, Fagan and his teammates had an "unbelievable" comeback against B.Binh Duong to win 3-2 (being down 2-1 until the 90th minute). In short, the risk of Tran Nguyen Manh and his teammates leaving Lach Tray Stadium empty-handed is not small.

Hai Phong is an extremely dangerous opponent every time they play at Lach Tray Stadium. Photo: VPF

Ending the journey "Northward", SLNA will return to Vinh Stadium to welcome Sanna Khanh in round 10 (May 18). It is true that the coastal city team is currently having a rather poor start (ranked 13th). However, do not underestimate the strength of coach Vo Dinh Tan and his team. Do not forget that in the V.League arena, SLNA has never defeated Sanna Khanh Hoa right at Vinh Stadium (lost 3, drew 1).

It is not known whether coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his team can successfully "break the curse" against Sanna Khanh Hoa or not, but the next two obstacles awaiting them are very difficult to overcome. They are Ho Chi Minh City Club and Saigon. The match between Ho Chi Minh City Club and SLNA (May 25) and the match between Saigon and SLNA (May 31) will take place at Thong Nhat Stadium, within the framework of round 11 and round 12 of V.League 2019.

Ho Chi Minh City Club is in good form. Photo: Zing.vn

Objectively speaking, both Ho Chi Minh City and Saigon FC are stronger than in previous seasons, compared to themselves. Under the leadership of Coach Chung Hae-song and Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong, these two teams are showing extremely annoying playing styles.

Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City Club is competing for the championship with Hanoi Club, while Saigon is also the "nemesis" of SLNA every time they play at Thong Nhat Stadium (in 3 away matches against Saigon, SLNA lost all 3).

Mentioning this, we can see that the next journey of the Nghe An team is extremely difficult and challenging. Just having to travel and play 4 away matches from the North to the South is also very difficult and arduous. Hopefully, coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his team will overcome it successfully.

SLNA's May and June match schedule at V.League 2019.