Melbourne Victory take the next steps in the Club’s first-ever AFC Champions League Two campaign this week.
The Boys in Blue have flown to Indonesia for a clash with 2026 Super League champions Persib Bandung on Wednesday, October 28, kick-off 11:15pm AEDT.
Before the match gets underway at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium, learn more about the club that Giovanni Savarese’s team will take on.
The past
As their name would suggest, Persib Bandung are a top-flight Indonesian side based in the city of Bandung, West Java, with a history of more than 100 years stretching back to its forerunner Bandoeng Inlandsche Voetbal Bond (BIVB) formed in 1919.
The first association of native football clubs in Bandung, it is recognised as one of seven teams that, in 1930, helped establish the All-Indonesian Football Association, and in the next four years underwent two mergers, the second of which formed Persib as it is recognised today.
They have won the national league competition on 10 occasions, although the first five of these – Perserikatan wins – were in the competition’s amateur status before the Liga Indonesia, a professional competition, arrived in 1994.
Persib’s most recent silverware, back-to-back Super Leagues, were overseen by Bojan Hodak. The Croatian, after electing to move into the position of technical advisor, was replaced by his assistant Igor Tolic during the recent off-season.
The present
Persib Bandung, who have previously employed the services of many overseas stars, including a 2012 Champions League winner alongside reigning Victory Medallist Juan Mata, Michael Essien, continue to have a distinct international flavour to their roster.
No fewer than eight nations are represented, including five-time Montenegrin cap Balša Sekulić leading the line, 16-time Bosnia and Herzegovina cap Luka Menalo, a trio of Brazilians and three Argentines. Even Indonesian international Eliano Reijnders is the brother of Netherlands star Tijjani Reijnders.
Head coach Igor Tolic, who has four wins from his opening seven Super League matches and a perfect record in the AFC Champions League Two so far, will be without his captain for the Match Day 3 contest. Marc Klok was sent off in the 1-0 win over Thể Công–Viettel.
The future
After taking on Melbourne Victory, Persib Bandung are straight into Super League action this weekend, looking to register back-to-back wins for the first time this season when they face newly-promoted side Isenmulang Kalteng on home soil.
It is then a quick turnaround for a hop across to Australia for the reverse Group E clash with the Boys in Blue at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on Wednesday, November 4, kick-off 6:45pm AEDT, with tickets available to purchase now by clicking here.
The pursuit of a third straight domestic crown, which sees them currently four points off top spot, resumes again with a trip to Java United before Bali United visit Bandung.
