Persija vs Java United: Shin Tae-yong is relying on the winning momentum from victories over Borneo and Persib.

Persija Jakarta enters the third week of the 2026/27 Super League with high confidence. Two consecutive victories over Borneo FC and Persib Bandung become important capital for Macan Kemayoran ahead of their home match against Java United at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Saturday 19 September.

Persija is one of three teams in the Super League that recorded a perfect start, collecting six points from two matches played.

The wins over Borneo and Persib mean far more than just six additional points for Persija. Last season, Macan Kemayoran failed to defeat both teams, which became one of the factors that affected the final title race standings.

"Yes, these two victories are very meaningful for Persija because the opponents were difficult ones. Borneo finished second last season, while Persib were the league champions. This is an extraordinary win that will put Persija on a smooth path going forward", said the South Korean head coach during an official interview with Persija, quoted Wednesday.

This winning run also gave Persija strong early season momentum. After surviving two opening matches against top opponents, Macan Kemayoran will next face Java United who are yet to claim a single victory in their first two games.

Even so, Shin identified unique characteristics that Java United possess. Persija will need to anticipate the team's high mobility and constant player work rate throughout the full match.

"Java United are a team with very good mobility, they run non-stop. Overall they are a solid side. The most important thing is that we do not get complacent, we prepare properly. That will definitely bring positive results", Shin stated.

Java United started the season with a 1-1 draw against Garudayaksa. In their following fixture, they once again failed to secure a win after falling to a dramatic 2-3 defeat against Persita Tangerang.

These two results placed Java United in 17th position with minus 1 point. The club already started the competition with a 2 point deduction following a disciplinary sanction from I.League.

The match against Persija becomes a separate challenge for Java United. They need a positive result to begin climbing the table, while Persija will aim to preserve their perfect winning run.

Persija is expected to field a more complete squad compared to their previous match against Persib. Several key players had been forced to miss that fixture, including Witan Sulaeman, Dony Tri Pamungkas and Shayne Pattynama.

Shin confirmed squad adjustments are being considered for the upcoming match. The return of these players will provide additional tactical options to maintain playing intensity after the two demanding prior fixtures.

"Most likely we will have a better squad available than when we faced the Bandung side", concluded Shin, who previously managed the Indonesian national football team.

Two wins against Borneo and Persija have built a strong foundation for Persija. The match against Java United becomes the next test to see if Macan Kemayoran can maintain this consistency through the early stages of the 2026/27 Super League.