Persib wins against PSM, Persija becomes the real test, Persebaya is still finding their form.

IndonesiaTravelSport.com - Persib Bandung kicked off their 2026/2027 Super League campaign with a convincing victory. Hosting PSM Makassar at the Gelora Bandung Lautan Api Stadium on Sunday (6/9/2026), Maung Bandung secured a 3-1 win after falling behind early in the match.

PSM caught Persib off guard with an early goal from Kodai Tanaka in the 6th minute. However, Persib mounted an impressive response.

After heading into half time trailing, Persib turned the game around in the second half with goals from Patricio Matricardi, Balsa Sekulic, and Uilliam Barros.

This result highlighted a key strength for Persib: their ability to respond under pressure and reverse the course of a match. The side also controlled proceedings, recording roughly 70% ball possession.

That said, this win over PSM is not enough to answer the big questions surrounding Persib's capabilities this season.

PSM still managed to threaten and take the lead first. This reveals there are still areas requiring improvement, most notably consistency in performance and defensive organisation when under pressure.

And the second matchweek will bring a far tougher test immediately.

Persib will travel to Jakarta to face Persija on Saturday (12/9/2026). Notably, Persija also opened their season with a win, beating Borneo FC 1-0 away in Samarinda thanks to a goal from Alexander Jeremejeff.

These two opening wins were earned with very different playing identities.

Persib demonstrated match control and comeback ability, while Persija showcased defensive discipline and clinical efficiency when converting chances.

For this reason, the Persija vs Persib derby is far more than just a battle for three points.

This fixture will act as the first real test for both head coaches and the long term projects they are building.

Shin Tae-yong has begun shaping Persija around a solid defensive foundation and structured, disciplined play.

Persib on the other hand must prove that their possession dominance and attacking output was not just effective against PSM.

If Persib can retain control of the match in Jakarta while withstanding Persija's pressure, their opening win over PSM will carry far greater weight.

Conversely, if Persija can nullify Persib's playing style, their clinical efficiency will prove to be a major weapon for this season's title race.

Persebaya Still Searching For Consistency

Elsewhere, Persebaya Surabaya began their season with a 1-1 away draw against Bhayangkara Presisi Lampung FC.

Bajul Ijo took the lead through Yann Mabella in the 13th minute, but were unable to hold on as Allano Lima equalised for the home side in the 59th minute.

Persebaya did not dominate possession; Bhayangkara actually recorded around 73% ball control. Even so, Persebaya created a number of clear opportunities to extend their lead.

The issue lies in end product, specifically the quality of final passes and decision making inside the opposition penalty area.

Taking one point on the road is not a poor result, but Persebaya still need to prove they can perform consistently and dictate matches against higher quality opposition.

This early analysis of Persib, Persija and Persebaya was discussed on the ITSMe Podcast, recorded at Sentul Studio, Bogor on Monday (7/9/2026), hosted by Raisha and Gilang Respaty.

Football analysts Yusuf Kurniawan (known as Bung Yuke) and Erwin Fitriansyah broke down the three teams' performances, shifts in playing style, and the challenges awaiting sides at the start of the 2026/2027 Super League.

The opening matchweek only provided an early snapshot of the season. However, the upcoming Persija vs Persib fixture will be a far more significant benchmark to measure how solid both teams' foundations really are.