V.League 2019, SLNA - Quang Nam: Testing strength

At the end of V.League 2018, coach Hoang Van Phuc and his team disappointed with 11th place on the rankings. Therefore, this season, the Quang Nam team has really changed its personnel, bringing in a series of quality names such as center back Duc Loc (from XSKT. Can Tho), midfielder Viet Tu (Nam Dinh), center back Duy Khanh (Hanoi), defender Anh Hung (Hai Phong) and midfielder Quoc Chi (S. Khanh Hoa BVN).

These are all players who have proven their worth in the V.League arena, in which Dao Duy Khanh was a former U23 Vietnam player, defender Nguyen Anh Hung grew up in SLNA, is a pillar of Hai Phong's defense, and the duo Quoc Chi - Viet Tu were both called up by coach Park Hang-seo to the Vietnam national team to prepare for the AFF Cup 2018.

Quang Nam Club added many new players to V.League 2019. Photo: Club

Besides experienced warriors like Van Cuong, Huy Hung, Thanh Trung, Minh Tuan, Quang Nam is presenting a new and youthful look with most of the players between the ages of 26-27.

In addition, the former Claudecir Junior is the next contract of Quang Nam Club. Thus, SLNA's opponent in the next match will play with 3 foreign players including: rookie Gabriel Davis, Claudecir Junior and Thiago.

In the confrontations with Quang Nam, SLNA often encountered many difficulties due to the tight playing style, not afraid of collision of the opponent. The foreign players of this team have the ability to seize opportunities much better than SLNA. Coach Hoang Van Phuc is a veteran coach in V.League and showed his experience in reading the game.

Playing away at Vinh Stadium, Quang Nam will be without player Phan Thanh Hung. This midfielder is injured and has not recovered yet, expected to return in the second leg of the 2019 season. This season, Quang Nam also said goodbye to a series of players such as Nguyen Ngoc Nguyen, Dao Van Phong, Nguyen Trung Dai Loc, Oliveira and Douglas.

SLNA will play with all 3 foreign players against Quang Nam. Photo: Duc Anh

On the home team SLNA, the Nghe An team is considered to be second only to Hanoi FC. However, foreign players are a big question mark as Marcio Alves and Damir Memović are both visiting Vietnam for the first time. However, this is also an opportunity for the Brazilian striker and Serbian midfielder to show themselves. The biggest absentee is defender Pham Xuan Manh.

In return, the Nghe An team will have Phan Van Duc, Ho Tuan Tai, Olaha, and Khac Ngoc in the starting lineup. Veterans like Van Binh, Dinh Dong, and Quang Tinh will also be of great help to the young SLNA players at crucial moments.

In terms of history, in 16 meetings, SLNA is slightly better with 7 wins, 4 draws and 5 losses. Notably, at Vinh Stadium, the Nghe team won 5 wins, 1 draw and lost in 7 encounters. That is the basis for Nghe fans to believe in a victory for coach Duc Thang and his team on the opening day.

The match between Song Lam Nghe An and Quang Nam in the opening round of V.League 2019 will take place at 4:30 p.m. on February 23 at Vinh Stadium.

Nghe An has 5 referees working in V.League, First Division 2019

(Baonghean.vn) - Before the start of V.League 2019, referees and assistant referees attending the first phase of training underwent physical tests and assessments. Accordingly, Nghe An had 5 referees who met the requirements.