ASEAN Club Championship: Persib Bandung Targets Three Points at Port FC's Home Ground

Persib Bandung will begin their campaign in the ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) 2026/2027. The side, nicknamed Maung Bandung, are targeting victory for their away fixture against Port FC at Thammasat Stadium, Klong Luang, Thailand on Thursday 8 October 2026.

This match will be Persib's opening game in this season's Southeast Asian inter-club competition. For this reason, securing three points on away ground is considered critical to build team confidence before the upcoming series of fixtures.

Persib midfielder Adam Alis confirmed that the team's core target from the start is to return home with a win. According to Alis, a positive result from Thailand will significantly ease Persib's journey through the group stage.

"First up we face Port. We have to secure all three points so that we can face the following teams with far more comfort later on," Adam stated via Persib's official media channel.

For Adam, winning the opening match will provide valuable momentum for upcoming opponents. Persib has been drawn into a group containing multiple established top Southeast Asian clubs, including Port FC and Johor Darul Ta'zim.

Adam described the ACC as a major test for Persib against the best sides across the region. He stated he hopes Maung Bandung will not only participate, but advance far into the tournament.

Port FC is not lightweight opposition. Adam noted that the Thai club has improved substantially after gaining competitive experience at the AFC Champions League Elite level.

Persib did not travel for this fixture unprepared. The coaching team has thoroughly analysed Port FC's playing patterns to identify weak points, while also preparing defensive countermeasures for the opposition's strengths.

"From the match footage I reviewed, they have become a much stronger side. But we also have a quality squad. Every player is ready to compete at Port's home ground, and ready to fight for points," he added.

Luka Menalo Confident Persib Will Defeat Port FC

The same optimistic outlook is shared by Luka Menalo. Persib's winger is confident his side can overcome Port FC after completing full tactical analysis of their upcoming opponents.

Menalo confirmed the team used Port FC's full match recordings to properly understand their playing characteristics. This preparation step is considered vital to give every player a clear picture of what to expect before kickoff.

"The Thai League is a solid competition, we have analysed them properly, we have watched their full matches. In my assessment they are a good team, but we have strong preparation and I am hopeful we can start this tournament with a full three points," Menalo stated.

Menalo also showed proper respect for Port FC. He acknowledged that Thai Football standards have continued to develop, and that Persib will need full focus to handle the pressure of playing in front of a hostile home crowd.

According to Menalo, Persib's pre-match preparations have run exactly according to plan. He confirmed all squad members are match-ready and prepared to give maximum contribution.

"Preparation has gone extremely well. We are ready," Menalo said.

For the 2026/2027 ACC tournament, Persib are placed in Group B alongside Port FC, Johor Darul Ta'zim (Malaysia), Lion City Sailors (Singapore), Cong An Ha Noi (Vietnam), and PKR Svay Rieng (Cambodia).

Persib require a positive result from this Thailand trip to establish a solid standing before their remaining group fixtures.

This ambition is supported by positive recent form: Persib enter this match off two consecutive wins, having beaten Persijap Jepara 2-1 in the Super League, before pulling off a surprise 1-0 victory against FC Seoul in the AFC Champions League Two.

This run of results provides strong momentum for Maung Bandung heading into the Port FC fixture. That said, this away match at Thammasat Stadium will present a unique challenge, as Persib must maintain full concentration from the opening minute while also neutralising the pressure from the home supporters.