Dewa United is ready to give a tough fight to Persib in the 19th week of Liga 1

Dewa United coach Jan Olde Riekerink has affirmed that his team is ready to pose a significant challenge to Persib Bandung when the two sides meet in the 19th week of the Liga 1 Indonesia at the Gelora Bandung Lautan Api Stadium, Bandung, on Friday, January 17, 2025.



Through the official Liga Indonesia website on Monday, January 13, 2025, Riekerink conveyed that a positive result against a team of Persib's caliber would solidify Dewa United's position as a top-tier team in Liga 1. "We want to prove that we deserve to be at the top. To do that, we have to show our best performance when we face big teams like Persib," said the Dutch coach.



Ahead of this crucial match, Dewa United carries the momentum of a convincing 2-0 victory over Arema FC in the 18th week of Liga 1. Two goals from Alex Martins secured the win, lifting Dewa United to sixth place in the standings with 28 points from 18 matches, 12 points behind league leaders Persib Bandung.Riekerink expressed satisfaction with the win over Arema FC and praised the strong mentality shown by his players."I am very happy with this victory. In the first half, we were able to show our best ability, despite often facing a physically superior team," said the former Galatasaray coach.



In their first meeting this season, Dewa United and Persib Bandung played out a 2-2 draw at the Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium in Gianyar, Bali, last August. This time, Dewa United are determined to secure a positive result in Bandung to maintain their position in the top half of the Liga 1 standings.