Hanoi Police vs Beijing Guoan: Challenge for the away team

At 7:15 p.m. on September 18, Hanoi Police Club will meet host Beijing Guoan at Workers' Stadium (Beijing, China) in the first round match of Group E AFC Champions League Two 2025 - 2026.

The absence of captain Quang Hai is a great loss for the Hanoi Police Club - Photo: Ngoc Le

This is the first time the Hanoi Police Club has met a Chinese team in an official match. Playing in the Asian arena for the first time, the challenge for coach Alexandre Polking and his team is not small.

Beijing Guoan is very strong

Beijing Guoan is a traditional and potential Chinese football team, having won the Chinese Super League in 2009 and been runner-up four times in 2007, 2011, 2014, and 2019. They have also participated in the AFC Champions League many times, now the AFC Champions League Elite - Asia's most prestigious tournament for clubs.

Last season, Beijing Guoan finished the domestic season in 4th place. They are currently holding the same position this season. Beijing Guoan is led by coach Quique Setien (Spanish). They own a squad worth 14.5 million euros, almost double that of Hanoi Police Club.

Beijing Guoan's most expensive player is Goncalo Rosa Gonçalves Pereira Rodrigues (3.5 million euros) - who played for Portugal's U17 and U19 teams. In the Beijing Guoan squad, there is also Chinese national team striker Zhang Yuning - a 1.85 m tall player who scored against Vietnam in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

Coach Alexandre Polking said CAHN did not go to China for tourism - Photo: CAHNFC

Hanoi Police Club faces personnel difficulties

Hanoi Police Club went to China without Quang Hai - a very important player in the playing style built by Coach Alexandre Polking. After the first 3 rounds (plus the early match of round 6) of V-League 2025 - 2026, Quang Hai scored 2 goals to help Hanoi Police Club temporarily lead the rankings. The absence of captain - spiritual leader Quang Hai will be a big difficulty for the players of the police team.

Another injury case of the Hanoi Police Club is the main striker Alan Grafite - who was injured and absent in the match against Hai Phong on September 13. Although he still went to China with his teammates, it is unclear whether Alan will be able to play or not.

If Alan does not recover in time, this will be a big loss for Hanoi Police Club in terms of attack. That is because he is currently the team's "goal machine" with 5 goals after 3 matches in V-League, 1 goal after 1 match in ASEAN Club Championship and 1 goal in the National Super Cup - that is, scoring 7 goals in all competitions since the beginning of the season.

Commenting on Beijing Guoan - the strongest opponent in Group E, Coach Polking emphasized: "This match will be very difficult because Beijing Guoan is an experienced team with great depth. However, we will enter the field with careful preparation and the best mentality."

Meeting host Beijing Guoan with a weakened squad, a draw is probably not a bad result for Hanoi Police Club.

On the evening of September 17, Nam Dinh Club defeated Ratchaburi (Thailand) with a score of 3-1 in the first match of Group F - AFC Champions League Two 2025-2026.

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NGOC LE

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cong-an-ha-noi-dau-beijing-guoan-thach-thuc-cho-doi-khach-20250918111455532.htm