- Persebaya Surabaya have won ten of their 16 home games this season, with five draws and only one defeat.
- Bali United Pusam have conceded 24 goals away, an average of 1.50 per match, and may be vulnerable defensively against a lively Persebaya Surabaya attack.
Home advantage could tip the balance for Persebaya
Persebaya and Bali will provide more than just the three points at stake when the two clubs meet in what is one of Indonesia’s top football rivalries this Friday. The hosts are the clear favorites to win at -166, but the draw is also priced at +300, which is on the short side for a home game that has not been won by Persebaya in their last meeting.
That was back when Bali won 2-0 in a Liga 1 2024/2025 matchup, and the visitors have dominated the last three head-to-head meetings. But home advantage and form of the hosts means the odds seem slightly against them here, although Stefano Cugurra’s men could well make it four in a row against the Surabaya-based club, as highlighted in the Persebaya Surabaya vs Bali United Pusam prediction.
Bali, who are in 10th spot with 47 points from 33 games in Liga 1 2024/2025, are just out of the running of top teams, with Persebaya in 4th on 56 points. The visitors have struggled to keep pace with higher-placed sides, but Cugurra has instilled a sense of stability since he took over in January 2019.
Bali can’t be underestimated
They are a disciplined unit that sets up to control the ball and dictate the tempo in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 formation that allows central defender Willian Pacheco to impose his authority in the middle of the defense. In Brwa Nouri, they have a midfield playmaker who can provide a spark and some set-piece danger, while Irfan Jaya has been their danger man up front, scoring two of Bali’s last four goals and two of their goals in the last five Liga 1 games.
This Persebaya Surabaya vs Bali United Pusam preview makes it clear that Persebaya are more dynamic, with Paul Munster bringing some attacking flair and tactical versatility to the club since he was appointed in January 2024. The Betawa have drawn their most recent matches, with a 1-1 stalemate against Semen Padang at home and a 1-1 result against Borneo Samarinda away, and have not lost any of their previous five Liga 1 matches.
However, they have drawn the four most recent, showing their inability to finish teams off while also demonstrating a gritty determination not to lose. Young Ze Valente has been a consistent tempo setter from midfield, linking the defense with attack while Bruno has been their most dangerous player up front, with four of Persebaya’s seven goals in the past five coming from his boot, according to the Persebaya Surabaya vs Bali United Pusam prediction.
Rivalry renewed with a goal-fest expected
Rizky Ridho has been a calming influence in defense, reading the game well and making some important interventions when his team has been under pressure. But Munster’s philosophy of attacking football with full backs overlapping and high pressing may well be put to the test against a side that prefers a structured and disciplined approach.
For those looking for our Persebaya Surabaya vs Bali United Pusam betting tips, it is difficult to go against Bali United Pusam in this fixture, but Persebaya have been in good form at home with a win and a draw from their previous two at Gelora Bung Tomo. The odds on the home team look good here and, given both clubs have scored multiple times in their recent games, there should be some value in the under 2.5 goals wager. The Persebaya Surabaya vs Bali United Pusam prediction suggests a closely fought affair with both teams likely to contribute on the scoresheet.
