Shin Tae-yong and Andre Caldas, the Two Coaches Shaping Matchweek Seven of the BRI Super League

Persija Jakarta held on to top spot in the 2026/2027 BRI Super League standings after beating Persik Kediri 2-1 in a dramatic matchweek seven fixture. The win owed much to coach Shin Tae-yong's tactical decision to change his lineup at half-time, just as Macan Kemayoran had fallen behind to the visitors' early goal in the 10th minute.

Throughout the first half, Persija dominated possession but struggled to break down Persik's compact defense. The deadlock was broken only after Shin Tae-yong brought on Rizky Ridho and Kwon Chang-hoo early in the second half. The two immediately changed the dynamics of midfield, applying greater pressure on the opposition's defensive area. The equalizer came in the 64th minute through Denis Kolinger, who converted a pass from Rayhan Hannan. Just two minutes later, Kolinger turned provider for Rizky Ridho's goal that put Persija 2-1 ahead.

The result extended Persija's positive run and underlined Shin Tae-yong's capacity to manage tight matches. With the three additional points, Persija sit firmly in first place with 18 points from seven matches, ahead of their nearest challengers. Consistency early in the season is a serious signal to other teams seeking to challenge the capital's dominance.

Elsewhere, Arema FC showed signs of revival under caretaker coach Andre Caldas. After five matches without a win—two defeats and three draws—Singo Edan finally ran riot against Dewa United with a 4-0 scoreline at home. Andre Caldas's lineup changes paid off: Careca scored twice in the 30th and 50th minutes, followed by Samuel Otusanya (65') and Julian Guevara (90+5).

Andre Caldas, previously an assistant to Marquinhos Santos, proved his ability to make quick decisions under pressure. The win is valuable capital for Arema to climb out of the relegation zone, though the real test is yet to come. The next two matches against Bali United and Madura United will be the benchmark for whether this revival is temporary or a turning point in Singo Edan's season.

Meanwhile, matchweek seven also produced other surprises: several top teams such as Madura United and Dewa United had to swallow defeats in away matches. Persib Bandung slowly climbed into the upper reaches after beating Garudayaksa FC. This dynamic shows that competition in the BRI Super League this season is tighter than expected, with underdog teams able to put up fierce resistance.

For Persija, the immediate challenge is maintaining consistency amid a packed schedule and the potential for player fatigue. Arema, meanwhile, buoyed by a big win, will try to prove that their strong performance against Dewa United was no coincidence. Indonesian football fans have reason to look forward to whether these two coaches can sustain their momentum or instead stumble in the weeks ahead.