Bali United recently suffered their second home defeat of the season at the Kapten Dipta Stadium in Gianyar, falling to Persib Bandung during Week 11 of the Super League 2025-2026 on Saturday evening (November 1). The decisive goal that secured the victory for Persib came late in the game, struck by striker Andrew Jung in the 84th minute.
This pivotal goal was conceded shortly after Bali United was reduced to ten men. Midfielder Mirza Mustafic received a red card from referee Irfan Wahyu Wijanarko in the 66th minute, a mere four minutes after coming onto the field as a substitute for Jordy Bruijn. This dramatic turn of events significantly altered the dynamics of the Super League clash.
Interestingly, despite the home loss, Bali United coach Johnny Jansen offered a surprising perspective, stating that Persib was not their toughest adversary in the ongoing Super League 2025-2026 season. According to Jansen, in their last ten matches, the most formidable opponent faced by the ‘Serdadu Tridatu’ (Bali United’s nickname) was in fact Persija Jakarta.
Their challenging encounter with Persija Jakarta took place at the illustrious Jakarta International Stadium (JIS) on September 14, 2025, concluding in a hard-fought 1-1 draw. In that high-stakes match, Bali United initially took the lead with a goal from midfielder Mirza Mustafic in the 19th minute, before Persija equalized through winger Bruno Tubarao in the 56th minute.
Johnny Jansen elaborated that the game against Persija felt considerably tougher due to the electrifying and fervent atmosphere generated by supporters at JIS. The immense pressure from both the opposing players and the passionate home crowd compelled Jansen to deploy his absolute best strategic approach to secure a crucial point away from home. Ultimately, Bali United successfully ‘stole’ a point from the capital city’s star-studded squad, a team boasting talent comparable to Persib.
“In my opinion, playing against Persija was much tougher than earlier (against Persib),” Johnny Jansen told reporters. He contrasted this experience with the recent match against Persib, noting that before the red card incident, Bali United, under the guidance of the former PEC Zwolle coach, felt capable of matching their opponents. Indeed, his players managed to create several promising opportunities. However, the dynamics of the game irrevocably shifted once Mirza Mustafic received his red card just four minutes after his introduction, disrupting the team’s meticulously planned tactics and strategy.
Despite playing with a numerical disadvantage, Bali United demonstrated resilience. Defender Ricky Fajrin continued to create pressure and carve out scoring chances, even as they were ultimately thwarted by Persib’s steadfast defense. “We were still able to execute our game plan to a decent extent,” Jansen remarked, reflecting on their efforts. “The situation drastically changed when our player received a red card; everything was altered.” Even while trailing, midfielder Kadek Agung managed to generate a significant opportunity, but his header from a corner kick was expertly parried away by goalkeeper Teja Paku Alam.
“We are continuously working on improving as a team, especially in developing our overall gameplay,” Johnny Jansen affirmed. “While I am disappointed with the final result of the match, I am immensely proud of the progress this team is making, which consistently points towards positive development.”
This result saw Persib climb to third place in the provisional Super League 2025-2026 standings with 19 points, accumulated from six wins, one draw, and two losses. Conversely, Bali United remains in ninth position in the league with 13 points, having secured three wins, four draws, and three defeats so far in the campaign.
Summary
Bali United recently lost 0-1 at home to Persib Bandung in Week 11 of the Super League 2025-2026, a match where they were reduced to ten men after Mirza Mustafic received a red card. Despite this defeat, coach Johnny Jansen surprisingly declared that Persib was not their toughest opponent this season. According to Jansen, Persija Jakarta posed a greater challenge for the ‘Serdadu Tridatu’ in their last ten matches.
Jansen explained that their 1-1 draw against Persija at Jakarta International Stadium (JIS) on September 14, 2025, was considerably tougher due to the electrifying atmosphere and immense pressure from supporters. He felt Bali United could match Persib before the red card drastically changed the game’s dynamics. While disappointed with the final score against Persib, Jansen expressed pride in his team’s consistent progress and development.
