Song Lam Nghe An meets Hoang Anh Gia Lai: Many difficulties await

Home teamHoang Anh Gia Laihad a dream start with a 4-0 victory at Quang Nam Club, thereby temporarily rising to the top of the rankings. Newcomer Da Silva Marciel scored a double, while Tran Gia Bao became the youngest player to score in V.League.

That positive information will help coach Vu Tien Thanh's team be more confident in welcoming the Nghe An team. There will not be many changes in the lineup of the mountain town team.

Still the 4-2-3-1 formation with the backbone being the foreign trio Jairo Filho, Da Silva Marciel and Jeferson Elias. Along with that are quality domestic players such as Dung Quang Nho, Chau Ngoc Quang or Tran Bao Toan. These factors under the hands of coach Vu Tien Thanh create a sharp defensive counter-attacking style of play.

Another strength that coach Vu Tien Thanh has built for Hoang Anh Gia Lai is the high ball. With Jairo Filho 1m90 tall, Da Silva Marciel 1m86 tall and Jeferson Elias 1m81 tall, the mountain town team always knows how to make it difficult for opponents with crosses or set pieces. 2/4 goals scored in Hoang Anh Gia Lai's opening match came from high ball situations. It can be said that this will be a difficult problem for coach Pham Anh Tuan. Especially when the Nghe An team will be without Sebastian Zaracho due to suspension.

Besides, the pillars of the defense are not in the best physical condition. Even center back Le Van Thanh had to limp off the field on the opening day. With a patchwork defense, if there are no specific calculations, it will be difficult forLam River Nghe Ancan keep a clean sheet in this match.

Therefore, playing a low and pragmatic formation will be the approach of the Nghe An team in this match. The 4-2-3-1 formation will limit the space of the home team as well as the attacks on the sidelines of the mountain town team. But Song Lam Nghe An will also have to limit the fouls in front of the penalty area. Because each free kick situation is a time when the storm rises up in the goal of goalkeeper Nguyen Van Viet.

In addition, the midfield of the Nghe An team will also have to regularly drop deep to support the defense. When facing technical players like Chau Ngoc Quang or Da Silva Marciel, the midfield really needs a midfielder with good physique like Nguyen Trong Tuan to compete and create a counterbalance with the home team.

Besides, the option of pulling Michael Olaha back to the midfield to increase fighting power is not a bad option. The Nigerian striker's good physical strength and ball-keeping ability will help the Nghe An team's midfield become more solid. Along with that, Michael Olaha's good passing ability will open up counter-attack situations for coach Pham Anh Tuan's team.

Especially whenBenjamin Kukuhas the ability to run, press and fight in the air quite well. This striker can completely fight independently against the Hoang Anh Gia Lai defense. Because this is a defense with a pair of central defenders who are quite slow to move.

The remaining factor in the attack is probably young striker Phan Xuan Dai, who has also fully recovered from his injury in this match. This striker from Yen Thanh, in addition to his speed, also has very good blocking ability. Therefore, this duo can absolutely make a difference in this match.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai's defense did not concede a goal in the opening match. But that was due to the lack of luck of Quang Nam Club's strikers and the excellence of goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien. Hoang Vu Samson and Atshimene Charles missed good chances, preventing the home team from finding an equalizer.

Therefore, in the upcoming match, Song Lam Nghe An's strikers must make the most of their opportunities, thereby helping their team achieve good results when leaving Pleiku Stadium.