Persita Tangerang
- Persita Tangerang are 6th in the league on 41 points, well on their way to securing a top-six finish and possible continental qualification.
- A win on Friday against an Arema side that have struggled in recent weeks will cement the hosts’ top-six aspirations, while a defeat would leave them vulnerable to the chasing pack.
- Persita’s form has been mixed in their last five with two big wins and three narrow defeats but they have been dangerous in the attacking third and Rayco Rodríguez has been on a hot streak, bagging a brace in the win over Madura United and playing a key role in their recent attacking surges.
Arema Malang
- Arema Malang are 11th on 32 points and need a win here to keep their top-half hopes alive and avoid getting dragged into the crowded mid-table battle.
- Arema boss Marquinhos Santos has implemented an attacking 4-3-3 style that takes the game to their opponents and involves pushing both full-backs and wingers high up the field.
- In practice, Arema have not defended well enough when their central defenders and defensive midfielders have been exposed and they have let games slip away from them.
Historical edge
Since 2013, Arema Malang have dominated Persita in the BRI Super League with 10 wins from 16 meetings , but the hosts have won three of the last five.
Persita
- Ahmad Nur Hardianto is Persita’s best bet in the penalty area and always seems to be in the right place at the right time.
- Pablo Ganet provides a driving force in central midfield and has chipped in with goals and assists in the recent 4-1 and 4-2 wins.
Arema
Dalberto leads the line as one of the most prolific forwards in the division.
Odds & tips
- A Persita win would confirm their top-six ambitions and Arema need points to keep up in the congested mid-table section, so both teams to score at 1.73 looks too low.
- Persita are the slight favorites at 2.09 while Arema are underdogs at 3.31 and the draw is at 3.12.
Short call
But the home side are sharper in attack and the away side have been conceding far too many goals, so we’ll take the home team to just edge it.
