Persib's Secret to the Super League Champion Hat-trick, Bojan Hodak: Defence is the Key!

Sunday, 24 May 2026 | 10:25

Author: Rojes Saragih

Skuad Persib Bandung merayakan hattrick juara Super League

The Persib Bandung squad celebrates their Super League title hat-trick at Gelora Bandung Lautan Api Stadium
Source: Fajri - ITSMe

Summary

1. Persib Bandung secured a historic hat-trick of Super League titles for the 2025/2026 season, underpinned by a rock-solid defensive record that saw the team concede only 22 goals across the full campaign.

2. The goalless draw against Persijap Jepara in the final league fixture served as clear proof of coach Bojan Hodak's tactical philosophy that prioritises avoiding conceding goals above all else.

3. Persib officially locked in the championship through superior head-to-head results against Borneo FC, which made Borneo's resounding 7-1 final match victory irrelevant to the title standings.

Bandung – Football proves the timeless saying: attacks win matches, but defences win championships. This exact philosophy has carried Persib Bandung to make golden history, securing three consecutive league titles in the Liga Indonesia era after lifting the 2025/2026 Super League trophy.

The irony of this season's title race unfolded perfectly on the final matchday, Saturday (23/5/2026). While their closest rivals Borneo FC celebrated a dominant 7-1 thrashing of Malut United in Samarinda, Persib sealed the championship with a plain 0-0 draw against Persijap Jepara, under the roaring support of tens of thousands of Bobotoh fans at Gelora Bandung Lautan Api (GBLA) Stadium.

Yet that goalless result became absolute proof of head coach Bojan Hodak's tactical approach. "I believe our defence is what won us the title this season," stated Bojan in Bandung on 23 May 2026.

Maung Bandung is on track to secure a hat-trick of Liga Super championship titles, needing just 1 single point when competing at the GBLA stadium to pull this off.

Persib Are On The Brink Of Winning The Title, While Bojan Hodak's Future Still Remains Uncertain

Bojan Hodak Speaks on New Contract Talks, Focused on Persib's Three-Peat

Statistics fully support this claim. Persib's goal was the hardest to break down across the entire league, conceding only 22 goals throughout the full season. This solid defensive line formed the critical foundation that maintained the team's consistency, while also covering for efficiency shortcomings in the attacking line.

The fixture against Persijap itself mirrored Persib's entire journey this season. Thom Haye operating as the team's attacking engine, alongside Barba, Adam Alis and Beckham Putra, continuously bombarded the Persijap goal. However all their dominance and string of clear goalscoring chances were shut down by an outstanding performance from Persijap Goalkeeper Ardiansyah.

"Even when we create chances but cannot always score, defence remains the strongest part of our game," Bojan added. He emphasised that the simple principle of 'not conceding' acted as the team's safety net whenever their forward line ran into a dead end.

Persib and Borneo FC actually finished the season with identical points: 79 points collected from 34 matches. However Persib claimed the championship throne due to superior head-to-head record. This season, Persib recorded one win and one draw across their two meetings against Borneo FC – a tiny margin that ended up deciding the fate of both clubs.

In the end, Borneo FC's seven-goal explosion on the final matchday amounted to nothing. Instead, Bojan Hodak's steel-hard defensive system has proven that consistency and mental fortitude at the back is the real key to dominating Indonesian Football for three straight seasons.

Quick Answer

Persib 2025/2026 Super League Hat-Trick: Bojan Hodak Names Defence As Title Key

Persib Bandung won their historic 3rd consecutive 2025/2026 Super League title via elite defensive performance. They conceded only 22 goals all season, claiming the crown via superior head-to-head results over Borneo FC despite finishing level on 79 points.

Persib secured 3 consecutive Super League titles for the 2025/2026 season
The team conceded only 22 goals across the full 34 match league campaign
Persib finished level on 79 points with Borneo FC, won via head-to-head record
Bojan Hodak confirmed defensive organisation was the core title winning strategy

Persib Bandung have completed a historic hat-trick of consecutive Super League titles for the 2025/2026 season, with head coach Bojan Hodak confirming that disciplined defensive organisation was the foundation of this success.

How the title was decided on the final matchday

The championship was confirmed on 23 May 2026, in one of the most ironic final matchdays in recent Indonesian football history. While title rivals Borneo FC recorded a dominant 7-1 victory over Malut United, Persib sealed the crown with a goalless 0-0 draw against Persijap Jepara in front of their home supporters at GBLA Stadium.

This unremarkable draw was not an accident: it was the exact outcome Bojan Hodak's game plan was built for. The goalless result perfectly demonstrated the tactical philosophy that carried Persib through the entire campaign.

Defensive statistics that won the league

Across 34 league matches, Persib conceded just 22 goals - the lowest defensive record in the entire competition. This consistent reliability at the back acted as a safety net for the squad, even during periods where the attacking line struggled to convert chances.

"I believe our defence is what won us the title this season," Bojan Hodak stated after the final match. He explained that prioritising not conceding goals always gave the team a chance to pick up points, even on days when their forwards could not find the net.

Final standings and head-to-head ruling

At the end of the season, both Persib and Borneo FC finished with an identical 79 points. Under league rules, the title was awarded based on head-to-head results between the two clubs. Persib recorded one win and one draw across their two meetings with Borneo FC, which was enough to claim the championship.

Ultimately, Borneo FC's seven goal haul on the final day had no impact on the title standings. For the third season running, consistency and defensive discipline have proven to be the winning formula for Indonesian football's most successful side right now.