Steven Danis
Football Tribe Indonesia
Tonight, PS TIRA-Persikabo will meet Madura United at their home ground, the Pakansari Stadium in Bogor. Both teams remain unbeaten and sit second and third respectively, behind Bali United. Additionally, both teams remain unbeaten since the start of the season, although TIRA have played seven games compared to Madura’s five.
The hosts will be facing real trouble as Madura United have a number of the deadliest strikers on their team.
TIRA recently pushed up into the runner-up, a position that Madura held for seven weeks, so Laskar Sapeh Kerrab will be looking for a precious win so that they may reclaim that spot again.
Meanwhile, Saturday night sees a big match between PSM Makassar and Bhayangkara FC. Juku Eja will be looking for redemption after last season, when Bhayangkara held them in Jakarta on Week 33; a result that effectively handed the title to Persija Jakarta.
For the home side, this will be good preparation before they had a Piala Indonesia Final 21 and 28 July, facing the same Persjia side they lost the title to last season.
In other games, Semen Padang and Barito Putera are stuck in the relegation zone and are still looking their first wins. This is a big challenge for both sides’ caretaker coaches, Welliansyah of and Yunan Helmi. Padang takes on Arema FC this afternoon while Barito Putera will meet Bali United on Sunday night.