Quang Nam - SLNA: The two defending champions are both running away from the relegation zone

The "kings" thirsty for points

After 7 matches in V.League, SLNA has only won once against Ho Chi Minh City Club and has only 6 points. On average, the Nghe team only scores 1 goal per match and concedes more than 1 goal. The home team Quang Nam is not much better, the defending V.League champion has only 2 wins against Hai Phong and FLC Thanh Hoa, earning 8 points.

On the rankings, Quang Nam is only ranked 10th, 2 places higher than SLNA, but if in the upcoming match, coach Duc Thang and his team get 3 points, Quang Nam will sink to the bottom. On the contrary, a "deep abyss" is also waiting for SLNA if they do not get any points at Tam Ky Stadium.

SLNA lost 0-1 to Quang Nam in their last match. Photo: Hai Thinh

Equal in weight

Just like SLNA, Quang Nam's playing style is relying largely on domestic players due to the decline in form of Claudecir. The Brazilian striker has only scored 1 goal after 4 matches, while Nguyen Trung Dai Duong is still confident after 6 matches.

SLNA's two foreign players are not doing much better. Osmar has only played 2 matches due to injury, with 1 assist and 1 goal, and Olaha is still more of an attacking midfielder than a scorer with 1 goal, despite playing all 7 matches.

SLNA receives good news about its squadg

Up to this point, except for Nguyen Manh's injury, the away team SLNA has the strongest force since the beginning of the season with the return of key players such as central defender Pham Manh Hung, midfielder Vo Ngoc Toan and foreign player Osmar Francisco. It is likely that in the upcoming match, coach Duc Thang will make the most of the two foreign players to increase pressure on the home team's defense. Accordingly, Olaha plays low, Ho Tuan Tai can pair with Osmar in the center forward position.

Waiting for the goal party

In recent years, the confrontations between the Quang Nam and Nghe An teams have always taken place with high professional quality. Typically, in the 2017 season, both the first and second legs had 6 goals scored. In the National Cup semi-finals, SLNA defeated their opponents with a total score of 7-4 in the first and second legs. In the first leg of the 2016 V.League, the away team Quang Nam held their opponents to a 3-3 draw. The match with the fewest goals was the 2017 National Super Cup match at Hang Day Stadium, where SLNA lost (0-1).

Quang Nam's defense depends a lot on Thiago. Photo: Hai Thinh

When Phi Son is no longer in the SLNA squad, Phan Van Duc will be the player who will face fierce marking from the Quang Nam defense. On the contrary, Que Ngoc Hai and his teammates will have to be wary of the dangerous crosses and long-range shots of Dinh Thang and Thanh Trung. However, high balls are also a weapon that SLNA can take advantage of on Tam Ky field with the good heading ability of Xuan Manh, Olaha or the central defender pair Van Khanh - Ngoc Hai.

The match was also a battle of wits between coach Hoang Van Phuc and coach Nguyen Duc Thang. Coach Hoang Van Phuc is an experienced and veteran coach. It was his leadership and flexibility that helped Quang Nam regain 1 point from Tam Ky last season, even though SLNA twice put their opponents in a chasing position.

In terms of form and strength, the defending V.League champions this season are not superior to SLNA. Therefore, if coach Duc Thang's students maintain their excitement and comfort, the youth of the Nghe team will be promoted and SLNA will have a positive result at Tam Ky Stadium.

Expected lineup:

Quang Nam: Van Cuong, Van Hoc, Thiago, Huu Phuoc, Thanh Trung, Dinh Thang, Duc Thang, Van Ha, Ngoc Nguyen, Claudecir, Dai Duong

SLNA: Vu Hai, Xuan Manh, Van Khanh, Ngoc Hai, Dinh Hoang, Olaha Michael, Ngoc Toan, Khac Ngoc, Van Duc, Tuan Tai, Osmar Francisco.

Head to Head History

National Super Cup 2017: Quang Nam 1-0 SLNA

V.League 2017:

SLNA 2-4 Quang Nam, Quang Nam 3-3 SLNA

National Cup 2017:

SLNA 4-1 Quang Nam, Quang Nam 3-3 SLNA

V.League 2016:

SLNA 3-3 Quang Nam, Quang Nam 2-0 SLNA.

V.League 2018 Round 8 Match Schedule

6pm May 18: Saigon FC - Sanna Khanh Hoa

5:00 p.m. May 19: XSKT Can Tho - HAGL

5:00 p.m. May 19: B.Binh Duong - Hai Phong

5:00 p.m. May 19: SHB Da Nang - Ho Chi Minh City

5:00 p.m. May 20: Quang Nam - SLNA

6pm May 20: Nam Dinh - Hanoi FC

6:00 p.m. May 20: Quang Ninh - FLC Thanh Hoa

Song Lam Nghe An: The attack is a difficult problem

(Baonghean.vn) - Coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his team are "sinking" in the second-to-last position on the V.League 2018 rankings, after 7 rounds. Is the defense or the attack the main line responsible for the team's poor results in recent times?