- Persebaya are currently 5th in Liga 1 2025/2026 with 52 points from 32 matches.
- Persik Kediri are 12th in the same table, with 39 points from 32 games.
A tale of two very different coaches
Saturday’s ‘Derby Jawa Timur’ between Persebaya Surabaya and Persik Kediri looks a lot more like a chess match than a head-to-head, with the respective coaches each having contrasting philosophies and methods. Since taking charge of Persebaya in December 2025, Brazilian Bernardo Tavares has instilled a structured, possession-based approach on his team that allows his players to play at a measured tempo that he controls.
Tavares has tweaked the team to keep them compact and solid at the back, while also giving them the license to push forward and express themselves, especially in the second half when they’re often able to turn the screw. His opposite number on Saturday, Marcos Reina, prefers a much more direct game, with his Persik team looking to play on the counter-attack and use pace on the flanks to create opportunities.
While our Persebaya Surabaya vs Persik Kediri preview notes Persebaya are the favorites here at 1.67, they have failed to win in their last 2 home games (D1, L1), although they did hammer struggling Semen Padang 7-0 on their last away game. This Persebaya Surabaya vs Persik Kediri prediction recognizes Persebaya are in mixed form heading into this game (W1, D3, L1), but Persik are no better with 2 wins, 1 draw, and 2 defeats in their last 5 games. Persebaya have the better overall home record this season, however, with 8 wins, 4 ties, and 4 losses from 16 games.
The home side to come out on top
Despite their recent issues, Persebaya should have enough to come out on top on Saturday. Our Persebaya Surabaya vs Persik Kediri prediction highlights their excellent home record against Persik, with Persik winless in their last 2 trips to Persebaya and an extremely poor away record overall in Liga 1 2025/2026 (W3, D1, L12). Persebaya are a much better team, have the home advantage, and have enough attacking talent to blow their opponents away on any given day.
Over 2.5 goals at 1.57 is a good price here, but we’re siding with Persebaya to win this game. The Persebaya Surabaya vs Persik Kediri betting tips lean heavily on Reina’s Persik team needing to find ways to create chances against a strong Persebaya defence and they’ll have to do so against a team that has an attacking threat of their own in Bruno, who has scored 2 of Persebaya’s last 3 goals across the last 5 games.
Backing both teams to score - no at 2.22, then, as we don’t rate Persik’s chances of finding the net in Surabaya.
