Persib Lost 0-1 to Madura United, Igor Tolic: We Were Punished Due to One Single Mistake

Persib Bandung head coach Igor Tolic assessed his side performed well against Madura United during the sixth matchweek of the BRI Super League 2026/27. However, wasted scoring opportunities combined with one single defensive error left Maung Bandung returning home with zero points.

Persib were forced to concede to home side Madura United by a 0-1 scoreline at Gelora Madura Ratu Pamelingan Stadium, Pamekasan, on Thursday. Dimitar Mitkov's 90th minute strike was the only difference in this Match Result.

For Tolic, this final result does not fully reflect Persib's on-pitch performance. He stated his players managed to control the match flow and created multiple chances, but lacked the sharpness required to convert those opportunities into goals.

"In my view, we played well enough to win this match. We created several chances, but failed to find the net. We were punished for one mistake, and that cost us the game," Tolic stated after the fixture, as quoted from the official I.League website on Friday.

This defeat has highlighted pressing issues for Persib to fix, most notably final third finishing quality and the ability to maintain full concentration right until the final whistle.

Madura United capitalised on these weaknesses to secure all three points in front of their home supporters. Mitkov claimed the match-winning goal, which also took his personal season tally up to five goals.

Tolic also acknowledged the opposition's quality. The Croatian coach noted Madura United have the capability to compete at the upper end of the league Standings.

"We delivered a good performance, but the home side are also a very strong team. They sit near the top of the table with a solid points haul. We still created more than enough clear chances to score, but we could not take them. We conceded once, lost 0-1, that is simply how this match ended," Tolic added.

This result is Persib's second defeat of the BRI Super League 2026/27 campaign. Previously, Maung Bandung fell 1-2 to Persija Jakarta in the second matchweek. This loss means Persib have once again missed an opportunity to build points in the race for top positions.

Persib currently sits 6th in the provisional league standings with 10 points. This tally is level with Bhayangkara Presisi Lampung FC and Persik Kediri, who occupy 7th and 8th place respectively. Persija Jakarta remains at the summit of the table.

Despite his disappointment with the result, Tolic stressed his squad has no time to dwell on this defeat. Persib are already scheduled for their next away fixture against Garudayaksa FC on Sunday 25 October, kicking off at 19:00 WIB.

With this tight turnaround, player physical recovery and tactical preparation are now the top priority for Tolic. He wants his squad to immediately shift focus to the upcoming match, rather than carrying disappointment from the Pamekasan fixture.

"The positive is we have another match in just three days. There is no time to sit overthinking this loss. We need to rest, Travel, and prepare for the next game. There is never time to celebrate for long when we win, just as there is no time to wallow when we lose. We simply have to work our way through all these fixtures," he explained.

For Persib, the upcoming challenge is not just about securing victory: the side must also ensure their dominant performances are matched with clinical efficiency in front of goal. Tolic's positive assessment of his team's play will only hold real value if Maung Bandung can start converting chances into goals, and eliminate costly defensive errors.

Persib will now use the Pamekasan result as evaluation material ahead of the Garudayaksa FC clash. With a congested fixture list, the ability to bounce back quickly will become a critical test of consistency for Tolic's side this early in the season.