Ahead of heated Persita vs Persija clash, Carlos Pena focuses on recovery and opponent analysis.
Source: Antara Photo/Putra M. Akbar
Persita Tangerang faces one of their toughest tests as they host Persija Jakarta in Week 19 of the BRI Super League. The match, scheduled for Friday, January 30, 2026 at 3:30 PM WIB at Indomilk Arena Stadium, Tangerang, is a crucial moment for the Cisadane Warriors to maintain their momentum in the upper echelon of the standings.
Quoted from the club's official website on Tuesday, January 27, Persita Tangerang coach Carlos Pena stated his team is focused on preparing for the match against Persija Jakarta.
Previously, they prioritized physical recovery after being held to a Draw by Bhayangkara FC last Friday.
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This draw result led Persita to adopt a measured approach. Pena first ensured players regained optimal physical condition before entering tactical preparations against the Kemayoran Tigers.
Following physical recovery, since Monday Persita Tangerang has begun preparing for Persija Jakarta, including analyzing the potential strengths of the Kemayoran Tigers.
"We will recover after the match against Bhayangkara FC and analyze the team's performance post-match. Starting today, we will begin preparing for the match against Persija," said Pena.
Beyond tactical aspects, weather conditions also drew attention. However, Pena emphasized this did not disrupt his team's preparations, despite frequent rain in Tangerang over the past week.
"No problem (with rainy weather), we can still Train. We haven’t canceled any training sessions these past few days," said the Spanish coach.
Pena mentioned that the somewhat dry pitch actually hindered his team's attacking play against Bhayangkara.
"We actually hoped for rain during yesterday's match against Bhayangkara FC, and perhaps some rain would be better since the pitch wasn’t in good condition," he stated.
Ahead of the duel against Persija, Persita’s league position adds context. Currently, Persita Tangerang sits fifth in the temporary Super League Standings with 32 points from 18 matches, trailing Persija Jakarta in third place by six points.
This gap makes the match at Indomilk Arena not merely a matter of prestige, but a direct opportunity for Persita to close the distance with their rivals at the top.
