Persita vs RANS Nusantara

Indonesia Liga 1 top-half bidders Persita entertain bottom-half strugglers RANS Nusantara at the Utama Sport Center Kelapa Dua in what should be a routine task for the hosts.

Persita’s form curve has taken a downward trajectory of late, with the ‘Cisadane Knight’ going from a three-match unbeaten league streak (W2, D1) to losing back-to-back games via an aggregate scoreline of 6-3. Particularly vulnerable beyond halftime, they’ve conceded precisely two second-half goals in their last two league outings. Indeed, a defensive set-up has not been Persita’s strong suit this season by any stretch of the imagination, as only one side coming into this round in the upper half of the Liga 1 standings has conceded more goals than them (19). That doesn’t bode well for the home side’s bid to maintain their five-game undefeated H2H run against RANS in Indonesian league football (W2, D3).

In the meantime, RANS Nusantara will take the field in the midst of a rough patch after failing to win three consecutive Liga 1 fixtures (D2, L1) since a 2-1 beating of Persebaya in mid-September. That victory remains the visitors’ solitary success across their opening seven away league matches this season (D2, L4). Their defensive frailties have seen the ‘Prestige Phoenix’ concede a whopping 19 goals on their seven top-flight travels this term, with a clear majority (68.42%) of those goals arriving before halftime, accounting for the first defensive away record in the first half in the entire division. They’ve at least been regular on the scoresheet, finding the back of the net on all seven top-flight travels thus far at an average of 1.57 goals per match.