Indonesian Liga 1 Round 2 Review: Persib Stumble in El Clásico as Bali United Take the Summit
Persib Bandung’s Derby Setback:
The marquee fixture of Round 2 saw Persib Bandung fall to a bitter 2-1 defeat against fierce rivals Persija Jakarta at the Gelora Bung Karno. Despite Montenegrin forward Balša Sekulić finding the back of the net to take his seasonal tally to two goals in two matches (joint-second in the league scoring charts), Bojan Hodak’s side struggled to withstand Persija’s sustained wide pressure and conceded eight corner kicks. The derby loss halted Persib's early momentum, dropping the Maung Bandung from third to eighth place in the table (1 win, 1 loss, 4 goals scored, 3 conceded, 3 points).
League Title Picture & Scoring Dominance:
Bali United stormed to the top of Liga 1 with a commanding 4-1 demolition of Semen Padang, boasting six points and a +4 goal difference. Madura United kept pace in second place with an emphatic 3-1 away victory over PSS Sleman, powered by Bulgarian hitman Dimitar Mitkov, who leads the golden boot race with an astonishing four goals in two games. Persija Jakarta’s derby triumph propelled them to third, completing a trio of clubs maintaining a 100% winning start. Elsewhere, Arema FC and PSM Makassar shared the spoils in an electric 3-3 thriller, while Persebaya Surabaya picked up their first win of the campaign (1-0 over PSIM Yogyakarta).
Round 5 Early Fixture & Round 3 Matchday Previews
Round 5 Early Clash (Borneo FC Samarinda vs Dewa United):
Borneo FC host Dewa United in an advanced Round 5 fixture on Wednesday. Borneo FC collected their first victory of the season with a gritty 1-0 away win at Persijap Jepara, moving into tenth spot. They face an unbeaten Dewa United side (sixth, 4 points) that showed resilience in a high-scoring 2-2 draw with Bhayangkara. Dewa United's fluid midfield transition will test Borneo's defensive structure in Samarinda.
Round 3 Preview — Persib's Rebound Mission:
Fresh off their demanding midweek AFC Champions League Two trip to FC Seoul, Persib Bandung travel to face newly promoted Persijap Jepara on Sunday evening. Persijap languish in 17th place after back-to-back defeats without scoring a single goal (0-1 vs Borneo FC). For Bojan Hodak's side, this fixture represents a non-negotiable three points to restore domestic rhythm and climb back into the championship playoff picture, with Sekulić once again trusted to lead the frontline.
Round 3 Other Key Battles:
League leaders Bali United travel to Borneo FC in a grueling away assignment, while second-placed Madura United host struggling PSIM Yogyakarta. Third-placed Persija Jakarta aim to preserve their flawless record at home against Jawa United, and Arema FC meet Persik Kediri in an anticipated East Java showdown.
Upcoming Fixtures Schedule
| Round | Matchup | Local Kickoff Time | Venue Time Zone | Live Streaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 5 (Early) | Borneo FC Samarinda vs Dewa United | Sep 16, 2026 4.30pm | WITA (UTC+8) | Click here |
| Round 3 | Arema FC vs Persik Kediri | Sep 18, 2026 3.30pm | WIB (UTC+7) | Click here |
| Round 3 | Madura United vs PSIM Yogyakarta | Sep 18, 2026 7.00pm | WIB (UTC+7) | Click here |
| Round 3 | Persebaya Surabaya vs Garuda Yaksa FC | Sep 19, 2026 3.30pm | WIB (UTC+7) | Click here |
| Round 3 | PSM Makassar vs Persita Tangerang | Sep 19, 2026 4.30pm | WITA (UTC+8) | Click here |
| Round 3 | Bhayangkara Presisi FC vs Semen Padang | Sep 19, 2026 7.00pm | WIB (UTC+7) | Click here |
| Round 3 | Persija Jakarta vs Jawa United | Sep 19, 2026 7.00pm | WIB (UTC+7) | Click here |
| Round 3 | Borneo FC Samarinda vs Bali United | Sep 20, 2026 4.30pm | WITA (UTC+8) | Click here |
| Round 3 | Dewa United vs PSS Sleman | Sep 20, 2026 3.30pm | WIB (UTC+7) | Click here |
| Round 3 | Persijap Jepara vs Persib Bandung | Sep 20, 2026 7.00pm | WIB (UTC+7) | Click here |
