Lam River, Nghe AnThe challenge in Pleiku

Unpredictable landlord

At 5 PM on October 23rd, Song Lam Nghe An played their second consecutive away match after a draw with Hong Linh Ha Tinh. After 4 rounds, coach Van Sy Son's team remains undefeated and sits in 3rd place with 8 points, while Hoang Anh Gia Lai is ranked 12th with 3 points. This disparity gives Song Lam Nghe An confidence ahead of their trip to Pleiku.

However, the results of recent encounters have favored Hoang Anh Gia Lai.

In their last five encounters in the V.League, the team from Nghe An only won 1, drew 1, and lost 3 matches. Specifically in the 2025/26 season, Song Lam Nghe An drew 1-1 in Pleiku.lost 0-1 at Vinh StadiumNotably, that draw was also the only point Song Lam Nghe An earned in their last three away matches in Pleiku, after two defeats of 0-1 and 0-2 in 2024.

In this rematch, Hoang Anh Gia Lai showed improvement in their attack, although their results remained inconsistent. After two defeats against Nam Dinh and Hai Phong, the team from Pleiku won 3-0 against Da Nang and then scored three more goals in their 3-4 loss to Ninh Binh. Six goals in two matches reflect an improvement in their ability to approach the goal, making their position in the bottom group of the table not yet fully indicative of their opponent's danger.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai's attacking power is concentrated in the duo of Luann Augusto and Matheus Lucas. Against Ninh Binh, these two foreign players combined quite well in quick passes behind the defense. Luann Augusto passed the ball to Nguyen Thanh Nhan for a goal, while Matheus Lucas's breakaway forced Lucas Turci to commit a foul and receive a red card. These situations showed that Hoang Anh Gia Lai is capable of creating breakthroughs even when they don't have more possession.

Considering the balance between the lines, Hoang Anh Gia Lai's most reliable lineup still revolves around Trung Kien in goal, Julio Cesar and Robson Alves in defense. Thanh Son and Vinh Nguyen are suitable options in midfield, combining tackling with the ability to connect the ball forward. Thanh Nhan provides dynamism on the left wing, while Tran Gia Bao adds movement in the attacking line, giving the two foreign players more options to combine with.

Vo Phuoc Bao's direct red card in Ninh Binh narrowed down the backup options for Hoang Anh Gia Lai's defense. Essentially, coach Le Quang Trai can still maintain his familiar defensive lineup with key players.

However, that framework still revealed weaknesses that Song Lam Nghe An could exploit. Against Ninh Binh, the team from Pleiku played with a man advantage from the 19th minute and even led 2-1, but still lost. The decisive goal came from a quick free kick late in the match, when the defenders failed to closely mark the player entering the penalty area. The home team's ability to maintain concentration is therefore questionable, opening up opportunities for Song Lam Nghe An's attackers.

The away match in Pleiku also puts Song Lam Nghe An under pressure from the stands, as Hoang Anh Gia Lai returns to their home ground after using the Quy Nhon stadium due to the deteriorating pitch. The support of the fans and the home team's determination to improve their position could cause difficulties for the Nghe An team right from the opening minutes of the match.

SLNA's strong point

In the draw against Ha Tinh last weekend, coach Van Sy Son made several personnel changes to conserve the energy of key players. Onoja and Phan Ba ​​Quyen were absent, Ho Khac Ngoc was on the bench, and Dang Quang Tu was deployed in midfield.

Against a HAGL side that is quite dangerous with its central attacking combinations, Onoja's return is a promising factor. His tackling ability could help Song Lam Nghe An reduce pressure on their defense. Meanwhile, Khac Ngoc's ball-holding ability and experience in controlling the game provide the visitors with additional options to cope when under pressure.

On the right flank, Ho Van Cuong has returned to playing and was brought on in the match against Ha Tinh. The return of this defender gives coach Van Sy Son more options, especially since Phan Ba ​​Quyen's participation in the trip to Pleiku is still pending confirmation.

At the heart of the defense, Jairo Rodrigues will have the opportunity to reunite with his former team. The Brazilian defender's experience and understanding of HAGL will be a valuable asset for Le Nguyen Hoang and his younger teammates. The clash between the Song Lam Nghe An defense and Luann, Matheus Lucas, is also one of the highlights of the match.

In attack, Bruno Paraíba remains crucial thanks to his ability to shield the ball, hold up the ball, and win aerial duels. His two goals against Bac Ninh and Hanoi FC both helped Song Lam Nghe An open the scoring, demonstrating the value of this striker in crucial moments when the team is trying to break the deadlock.

Alongside Bruno, Luizao is showing progress and increasingly effective coordination with his strike partner. Against Ha Tinh, the Brazilian player was involved in the opening goal and then scored the second goal after an assist from Bruno. Luizao's movement and ability to exploit space complement his compatriot's playing style, giving Song Lam Nghe An more avenues to attack the opponent's goal.

The attacking power of the Nghe An team is further strengthened from the second line, where Nguyen Quang Vinh has scored 3 goals in 4 rounds. The young midfielder's goal-scoring ability helps Song Lam Nghe An become less dependent on the strikers. When Bruno and Luizao draw the attention of Hoang Anh Gia Lai's defense, Quang Vinh's incursions can create surprises.

That attacking prowess was also demonstrated in their first two away games of the season: Song Lam Nghe An beat Hanoi FC 4-1 and drew 2-2 with Hong Linh Ha Tinh. Six away goals show that the Nghe An team still knows how to find the net when playing under the pressure of the home crowd. This is a source of confidence for coach Van Sy Son's team ahead of their trip to Pleiku.

However, two consecutive draws against Ho Chi Minh City Police and Ha Tinh have slowed down Song Lam Nghe An's points accumulation. In Ha Tinh, after conceding the equalizer, the team mainly passed the ball back and forth in midfield, lacking sharp passing combinations to create scoring opportunities.

Considering their form and early season performance, Song Lam Nghe An has grounds to aim for points in Pleiku, and even a victory if they can exploit weaknesses in the home team's defense. However, the home advantage and the improving attack of Hoang Anh Gia Lai promise a more balanced match than the gap in the standings suggests. The effectiveness of the attacking players and personnel choices in the midfield could make the difference.