V-League after 17 rounds: The silhouette of the 'king' is emerging.

The championship race for the V-League 2025/2026 is increasingly becoming a "single contender" affair, with CAHN Club securing a comfortable points lead over its pursuing opponents. As the league moves into its decisive stage, CAHN's consistent form gives them a tremendous edge to ascend to the throne by season's end.

Squad depth and the tactical imprint of Coach Polking

Round 17 saw CAHN break away with a heavy victory over the bottom-placed SHB Da Nang. Ninh Binh FC also secured valuable three points to end their streak of draws and losses. The Viettel Army managed only one point against SLNA, while Hanoi FC suffered defeat on Hai Phong's ground. The most impressive performance remained Thanh Hoa's dominant 4-0 win over the visiting CATP.HCM team.

With these results, Coach Polking's team has created a 9-point gap, asserting an almost absolute dominance in the V-League 2025/2026 title race. In Vietnamese football history, this is an extremely difficult margin to close, especially as the league begins its sprint towards the finish line.

CAHN's stability is evidenced by their establishment of a 16-match unbeaten streak this season, transforming the team into a "steadfast machine" advancing towards the goal. Possessing rare squad depth, flexible tactics, and stable performance, CAHN is gathering all the necessary elements to march straight to the V-League crown.

CAHN's advantage stems not only from dry statistics but also from their superior squad depth. Their lineup is a perfect blend of top-tier domestic talents like Nguyen Filip, Quang Hai, Viet Anh, Dinh Bac, alongside high-quality foreign players such as Leo Artur and Alan Grafite.

Additionally, players who have recently returned to the Vietnamese national team, like Dinh Trong, Doan Van Hau, and Thanh Long, also contribute significantly to stability.

The foreign players of this club also create a clear distinction. Alan brings sharp scoring ability, Leo Artur plays a creative role in the attacking style, while Vitao and Hugo Gomes help maintain solidity in the midfield and defense. The harmonious combination of quality domestic players and effective foreigners allows CAHN to always have multiple tactical deployment options.

Under the shaping hand of Coach Polking after three years of leadership, CAHN has built a tactical system with diverse and highly fluent attacking patterns. Their early exit from regional and continental cup competitions inadvertently became an advantage, enabling the team to concentrate all efforts on the sole battlefield of the V-League, avoiding the overload or dispersion of resources often seen in major clubs.

The faltering of chasing rivals

Contrary to CAHN's stability, direct competitors are complicating their own situations with unfortunate slips. While CAHN progresses with impressive victories, teams like Ninh Binh, reigning champions Nam Dinh, Hanoi FC, or CATP.HCM Club only show erratic form. In the overall picture of this V-League season, it seems only Viettel Army retains the capability to chase and create pressure in the title race. However, Viettel Army lacks consistency and often "stumble" at crucial moments.

In such a context, stable performance is precisely the foundation enabling CAHN to break away in the championship race. While many opponents perform inconsistently, CAHN maintains a regular winning rhythm. They know how to control matches, seize opportunities, and uphold concentration during critical moments.

This flourishing does not stem from mere individual moments but is the result of a highly cohesive tactical system. Coach Polking has successfully built a style of imposing play, versatile ball control, and the ability to stifle opponents whenever opportunity arises. This is a quality typically found only in teams with championship-caliber character.

As the season enters its decisive phase, character and stability are granting CAHN a major advantage over their chasing rivals. They are not only widening the gap with the chasing group but also moving very close to determining the championship race. Although football always harbors surprises, based on their demonstrated performance, CAHN holds the power of self-determination. If they maintain their current focus and form, the day they officially lift the V-League championship cup this season likely remains only a matter of time.