Persib
- Persib are the clear favorites to beat promoted PSIM Yogyakarta on Monday, according to the odds and the standings, and there is every chance that the hosts will do exactly that.
- Persib’s 4-2-3-1 is an open, high-tempo system that relies on vertical passing, pressing opponents high up the pitch and finishing off opponents quickly.
- Hodak’s side are hard to beat when these aspects click, but they drop points when they don’t, as their recent run of three draws and two one-goal wins indicates.
PSIM
- Van Gastel has a good pedigree of working with teams in Indonesia, but his side have struggled for consistency in the last five games, winning one, drawing two and losing two.
- The coach has worked on making them a solid unit at the back while also improving their attacking quality in their debut top-flight season.
- PSIM will set up in a more compact 4-3-3 formation, allowing Ze to be their main outlet in the final third while giving them a numerical advantage in the defensive third.
Head-to-Head
- Persib are second on 66 points, 30 played, still in the title race.
- PSIM are 11th on 39 points, 30 games played, comfortably clear of relegation.
- Persib and PSIM have played one league match this season, a 1-1 draw.
Persib
- Andrew Jung is a major threat and always a threat to score, while Ramon de Andrade Souza has provided some creativity from midfield of late and chipped in with some goals.
- Uilliam Barros Pereira is another strong finisher and Persib have enough depth to make the difference.
PSIM
PSIM’s backbone is the trio of Nermin Haljeta, Reva Adi Utama and Rahmatshoh Rahmatzoda , who all offer a bit of everything in terms of work rate and goals, but Ze is the best player on the field most games and will be their best chance to create a goal.
Betting Insights
- The difference in odds between the teams is remarkable, with Persib at 1.22, their visitors 9.25, and the draw 5.25 at the time of writing.
- Under 2.5 goals is a strong bet for Monday’s match at 2.17, with both teams to score no as the preferred option at 1.62.
Prediction
- Persib are a far superior side to PSIM and will likely have the patience to break through the visitors’ defensive lines at some stage in the game.
- A scrappy game could suit PSIM, who are very capable of avoiding defeat, but Hodak’s squad has the quality to win it in the end.
- Persib have superior attacking quality and can edge a close game by a 1-0 or 2-0 score.
