Persebaya Surabaya
- Persebaya Surabaya need to bounce back from inconsistent recent form when they face Borneo FC Samarinda in a key Liga 1 clash at Gelora Bung Tomo on Saturday.
- The home side have been tough to beat at Gelora Bung Tomo against Borneo, who haven’t tasted success at this ground since 2018.
- Persebaya are mid-table with 18 points (Won 4, drawn 6, lost 3, scored 15 and conceded 13).
- Uston Nawawi took over as caretaker coach of Persebaya after Eduardo Pérez was dismissed for a bad start to the season and has steadied the ship but there is still little spark in the team’s attacking play.
- Bruno Moreira is Persebaya’s top scorer and main attacking threat, but with the pressure on, the team couldn’t be more reliant on their main striker for a goal.
Borneo FC Samarinda
- However, Borneo are flying high in the Super League table with 33 points from their 13 matches (Won 11, lost 2, scored 25 goals and conceded eight).
- A win would re-establish Borneo’s title credentials and put the fear back into the rest of the league, but they have stumbled a bit after their incredible 11-match winning start to the campaign.
- Back-to-back defeats to Bali United (1-0) and Persib (3-1) suggest a small wobble at the top may have begun for Fábio Lefundes’ men.
- They like to play with width, creating overloads on the wings and playing in behind with pace.
- Borneo’s front three are known for their high-intensity, high-pressure game, but they are not a team that keeps as much possession as Persebaya.
Head-to-Head
Borneo have won five of the 14 head-to-head meetings since 2018 and Persebaya four with five draws.
Key Players
- Francisco Rivera is the creative hub of the Persebaya engine room, but his recent disciplinary issues and red card mean he is likely to be suspended for this clash.
- Nadeo Argawinata has been the backbone of the best defence in the league this season, but recent cracks have started to show.
- Mariano Peralta is the main source of goals in Borneo’s attack, as he proved with a brace against Semen Padang.
- Bruno Moreira is the best finisher Persebaya have and is on penalty duties.
Betting Insights
- The Under 2.5 goals bet at 1.8 is a strong option too because of the way these two teams have been playing recently.
- The stormy, humid weather in Surabaya could make for a sticky surface and slow game, which could suit the more direct and physical Borneo side.
Prediction
Persebaya won 2-1 on this ground last December and the away leg this May finished 1-1, so we are backing the visitors to hold out in a 1-1 draw .
