The best players "broke the curse" of losing all the time?

Nam Dinh beat HAGL 3-0 in the first leg this season. (Photo: WS)

Since returning to V-League in 2018, Nam Dinh has lost every time they visit HAGL. Pleiku Stadium has become one of the two most feared destinations for the team from the South, besides Hang Day to visit Hanoi FC.

However, Nam Dinh have made great progress this season. With a squad full of excellent players, they won 2-1 and defeated Hanoi FC for the first time at Hang Day Stadium last March.

Notably, Nam Dinh has upgraded its strength by recruiting three iconic players of HAGL: striker Nguyen Van Toan, fullback Nguyen Phong Hong Duy and midfielder Nguyen Tuan Anh.

The three former HAGL players will join with great players like To Van Vu, Ho Khac Ngoc, Ly Cong Hoang Anh, Lucas Alves, Hendrio... aiming to help Nam Dinh "break the curse" of losing all matches at Pleiku Stadium.

Unfortunately, Nam Dinh will be without their main striker Rafaelson in this match. The striker, who is leading the V-League's top scorer list with 19 goals, is suspended because he has received 3 yellow cards.

Rafaelson was suspended when Nam Dinh visited HAGL. (Photo: WS)

Without Rafaelson, the challenge of penetrating HAGL's defense will become more difficult for Nam Dinh. The home team has transformed in recent times, when coach Vu Tien Thanh built a pragmatic style of play based on the foreign central defender pair Dias - Jairo and the revival of goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung.

Under the leadership of coach Vu Tien Thanh, HAGL has gone 8 matches unbeaten to break away from the relegation battle. The team from the mountain town is currently ranked 10th with 21 points, 11 points ahead of the bottom position of Khanh Hoa and 6 points ahead of the second-to-last position of SLNA.

However, the balance of power is still leaning more towards Nam Dinh. At this time, HAGL can hardly compare with the V-League leader in terms of squad depth and quality of play. In addition, the team from the mountain town will be without striker Dinh Thanh Binh due to suspension.

More importantly, Nam Dinh is in a good mood to reach the finish line in the championship race. Coach Vu Hong Viet and his team have just consecutively defeated two competitors, CAHN Club and Binh Duong , to create an 8-point gap with the chasing group.

Expected lineup:

HAGL: Bui Tien Dung, Van Son, Gabriel Dias, Jairo, Duc Viet, Thanh Binh, Minh Vuong, Tan Tai, Dung Quang Nho, Joao Henrique.

Nam Dinh: Nguyen Manh, Hong Duy, Thanh Hoa, Lucas Alves, Van Dat, Van Vu, Hendrio, Van Cong, Hoang Anh, Van Toan, Minh Tuan.

PV/VOV.VN