HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội FC take on Sông Lam Nghệ An (SLNA) in the last 16 of the National Cup at Mỹ Đình Stadium on Sunday.

Hà Nội have beat SLNA four times in a row and will be favoured for a fifth straight win.

Hosts Hà Nội have the edge on paper, however they will have to do without several key players due to injuries and suspension, including captain Gonzalo Damian Marronkle, Alvaro Silva and Hoàng Vũ Samson.

The Asian Football Confederation suspended Samson for four matches and fined him US$1,000 for head butting a Ceres Negros player in the AFC Cup.

Meanwhile, SLNA are trying to replace striker Shackiel Henry of Trinidad & Tobago who has been released despite scoring six goals in the first half of the league season.

Coach Nguyễn Đức Thắng of SLNA will select young strikers such as Hồ Phúc Tịnh or Nguyễn Viết Nguyên.

Meanwhile, Sài Gòn FC face Hoàng Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) at Thống Nhất Stadium in HCM City.

The match will mark the return of HAGL’s midfielder Nguyễn Tuấn Anh after a long period on the sidelines due to injury.

Anh used to play for Japanese club Yokohama FC on loan from HAGL and is considered one of the most technically gifted midfielders Vietnamese football has ever seen. He was voted 2014’s young player of the year.

HAGL may also hand a debut to new recruit Henrique Marcelino Motta of Brazil. The versatile twenty-six-year-old who played for Mogi Mirim and São Bento club in Brazil’s Serie B and C divisions can play in defence and midfield.

In other fixtures, Đà Nẵng meet Thanh Hóa, Khánh Hòa take on HCM City, Long An fight Cần Thơ on Saturday, while Quảng Nam play Hải Phòng, Quảng Ninh vs Bình Phước and Bình Dương face Viettel on Sunday.

The eight winners in this round will advance to the quarter-finals. — VNS