Borneo vs PSS Sleman

Stadion Jatidiri is the venue as Borneo and PSS Sleman go head-to-head in a seemingly routine Indonesia Liga 1 task for the home side.

Borneo bounced back from a 1-0 away defeat at Persija Jakarta by thumping bottom-half PSIS Semarang 4-2 on the road on the back of an eye-catching 3-1 halftime lead. However, consistency remains an issue for the ‘Pesut Etam,’ as they’ve picked up only two wins from their last five league fixtures (D2, L1), slipping two points below pacesetters PSM Makassar. Playing at home will boost the spirits in Andre Gaspar’s camp, considering his men have racked up six victories from their seven home matches in Liga 1 this term (D1), netting a league-high 19 goals in the process. Delivering action from the get-go, they have tallied a league second-most ten first-half goals at home this season, so it’s unsurprising they’ve opened the scoring in four of their last five league games.

On the other hand, visiting PSS Sleman succumbed to a narrow 1-0 home defeat to Madura United last time out, making it four consecutive league losses since a 2-1 home victory over Persis Solo in early September. A run of abysmal form has seen PSS drop to lower reaches, with the ‘Super Elang Jawa’ coming into this round only one point clear of the relegation zone. Unfortunately for head coach Seto Nurdiantaro, his men’s poor away league record this season (W1, D3, L2) cannot inspire much confidence. Neither can the fact his lads have failed to get on the scoresheet twice on their last three league travels (D1, L2). The visitors’ underwhelming away form will intensify fears of suffering another heavy defeat, as was the case in their only prior visit to Borneo in 2022 (0-4).