Although the specific circumstances within PSIS Semarang remain unclear, head coach Agius admitted before the match that the team indeed faced internal issues prior to their clash with Persebaya, which undoubtedly impacted their performance. However, he firmly insisted that this was not an excuse for poor results. While Agius attempted to downplay the matter by saying “all clubs have problems,” it cannot be overlooked that internal conflicts have left PSIS Semarang with just two points from their last five matches, sinking them deep into the relegation zone.

In contrast, Persebaya Surabaya’s outlook is far more promising. Head coach Monstar announced that two key players—defender Kadeck Raditya and forward Malik Risaldi—have returned to training and are expected to feature, providing a significant boost to the team. Although defender Idrus will miss out due to a yellow-card suspension, Kadeck Raditya’s return is sufficient to cover the gap. Even more noteworthy is PSIS Semarang’s feeble attack: they have scored just 20 goals in 25 matches, averaging less than one goal per game, the lowest in the league, making it unlikely for them to pose a real threat to Persebaya’s defense.

Furthermore, Persebaya’s young midfielder and potential national team player Toni Firmansyah has completed his suspension. His creativity will inject vitality into the team and further bolster their strength. After enduring a rough patch of just one win in eight matches, coach Monstar has successfully steered the team back into title contention through tactical adjustments and the players’ determination. He personally acknowledged that his position as coach was once under threat, but the team’s relentless efforts have finally borne fruit.

In summary, there is a clear disparity between the two sides in both recent form and overall quality. Therefore, in this match, I believe Persebaya Surabaya will capitalize on their home advantage to comfortably defeat their opponents and secure all three points.

Persebaya Surabaya -1