Persib Host Isenmulang Without Igor Tolic, Three-Game Winning Streak Put to the Test
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- Persib Bandung akan menghadapi Isenmulang Kalteng FC pada pekan kedelapan BRI Super League tanpa didampingi pelatih kepala Igor Tolic yang menjalani sanksi akumulasi kartu kuning.
- Modal tiga kemenangan beruntun di semua kompetisi, termasuk atas Melbourne Victory di AFC Champions League Two, menjadi bekal berharga bagi Maung Bandung untuk menjaga momentum.
- Kehadiran asisten pelatih Zlatko Runje di bangku cadangan akan menguji kedalaman taktik tim, sementara Isenmulang berpeluang mencuri poin dari lawan yang sedang dalam performa apik.
Persib Bandung will host Isenmulang Kalteng FC in the continuation of the 2026/2027 BRI Super League at Gelora Bandung Lautan Api Stadium on Sunday (1/11/2026) afternoon. The match is a test for Maung Bandung, who will play without head coach Igor Tolic due to a yellow-card accumulation suspension. A win is non-negotiable to sustain their positive run and cement their position in the upper table.
Persib arrive with high confidence after three consecutive wins across all competitions. Most recently, Thom Haye and company silenced the Australian side Melbourne Victory in the 2026/2027 AFC Champions League Two. Before that, they also beat Garudayaksa FC 2-1 in the seventh week of the BRI Super League. This perfect record signals that Persib's attacking engine is starting to find its rhythm.
However, Igor Tolic's absence from the touchline is a spotlight of its own. The Croatian coach must watch from the stands after receiving his second yellow card in the last two matches, against Persik Kediri and Garudayaksa FC respectively. In his place, assistant coach Zlatko Runje will take command. A change of figure on the bench often affects a team's dynamics, especially in tactical decision-making when a match is tight.
On the other side, Isenmulang Kalteng FC are not an opponent to be underestimated. Although statistically they have yet to show impressive form, the promoted side have strong motivation to steal points from a big team. Persib need to be wary of a potential upset, especially without the head coach who usually gives direct instructions. Squad depth and the intelligence of senior players such as Thom Haye will be key to maintaining stability in play.
"We have to stay focused even though the coach is not on the touchline. All the players already know their respective jobs," said an internal team source who declined to be named.
From a tactical standpoint, Tolic's absence could be an opportunity for Isenmulang to apply tight pressing from the start. Runje is expected to continue the embedded playing philosophy, but flexibility in changing formation at half-time may be slightly affected. Persib remain favorites, but Indonesian football often delivers stories beyond prediction.
A win over Isenmulang will keep Persib's momentum ahead of a packed schedule, including the continuation of the AFC Champions League Two. Conversely, a negative result could trigger questions about the team's dependence on Tolic. The Bandung public awaits whether Maung Bandung can prove that their quality does not depend solely on one person on the bench.
