Bogor, 19/08/2026, ITSMe - Persib Bandung closed out the 2026 Dewata Challenge Series with a trophy. However, winning this pre-season tournament title in Bali was never the final end goal.
Instead, these two matches provided Persib with a critical assessment of how prepared they are for far greater upcoming challenges: the AFC Champions League Two (ACL 2) play-offs and the 2026/2027 Super League.
Persib secured victory in both matches held at Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium, Gianyar. After defeating Sabah FC 3-0, Maung Bandung pulled off a dramatic 3-2 win over Bali United on Tuesday 18 August 2026. This result also showcased the team's character to rally when placed under pressure.
READ ALSO
Must Win by 4 Goals, Persib Defender Confident of Advancing to ACL2 Quarterfinals
2026 President's Cup Semifinal: Igor Tolic Confirms Persib Is Targeting Victory Against Persija
Needing a 4-goal win, Bojan Hodak believes Persib can create a miracle at GBLA.
Against Bali United, Persib fell behind on two separate occasions. Brandon Wilson put the home side 1-0 ahead before Marc Klok equalised from the penalty spot. Joao Ferrari then restored Bali United's lead to 2-1.
Persib only delivered their strongest response in the final phase of the match. Balsa Sekulic levelled the score, before Gabriel Mutombo scored the winning goal during second half stoppage time.
For Mutombo, this goal carried meaning far beyond just securing the match win. The French defender was signed in June to fill the position vacated by Federico Barba, one of the core players that drove Persib's Super League title triumph last season.
This transfer forms part of a major restructure at Persib. As well as losing Barba, Maung Bandung has entered a new era under Igor Tolic following Bojan Hodak's departure as head coach. Meanwhile, all new signings are required to adapt to a completely revised playing system.
Full squad chemistry has also not yet been established. For example, Marc Klok only returned to the team after representing the Indonesia National Team at the 2026 AFF Cup. He confirmed that these two matches in Bali were vital to reacquaint himself with the new squad members and understand Tolic's coaching approach.
For this reason, the Dewata Challenge should properly be framed as Persib's final testing ground before official competitive fixtures. Even prior to facing Sabah, Tolic openly stated the squad remained unbalanced and that these pre-season matches would be used to trial different tactical options.
Now the window for experimentation is closing rapidly.
Persib will host Manila Digger for their ACL 2 play-off tie in Bandung on 31 August. This single match is the gateway to the group stage. A win will place Persib in Group E alongside FC Seoul, Melbourne Victory, and The Cong-Viettel.
This is no straightforward challenge. Persib will not only face opponents with vastly different playing identities, they will also face long haul travel to South Korea, Australia and Vietnam. All of this will take place simultaneously while the club defends their domestic form in the 2026/2027 Super League.
As such, squad depth has become an absolutely critical factor. Mutombo must prove he can reliably anchor the defence following Barba's exit. All other new signings are expected to integrate quickly, while long serving players must adapt fully to Tolic's tactical philosophy.
There is one additional complication that makes the upcoming play-off even harder. Persib will be forced to play this home match against Manila Digger without live supporter attendance from their Bobotoh fanbase, due to an active AFC sanction.
That is why the question of whether Persib is ready for ACL 2 cannot be answered just by the trophy they lifted in Bali.
Early indicators are positive: Persib has demonstrated competitive mentality, individual quality, and proven comeback ability. However consistency, full team chemistry, reliable squad depth and mature tactical execution are still yet to be proven under official competitive pressure.
The Bali trophy is a solid positive foundation. But the real test for Persib begins on 31 August. Only if they overcome Manila Digger will Maung Bandung discover if the major off-season changes they implemented are sufficient to compete at Asian continental level.
All latest updates and analysis regarding Persib Bandung were discussed on an ITSMe podcast featuring independent football analysts Ronny Pangemanan and Sapto Haryo Rajasa. The recording took place at ITSMe Studio, Sentul, Bogor and was hosted by Gilang Repasty and Pudila.
