Persib Bandung host Viettel in crucial AFC Champions League Two Group E clash

Persib Bandung will face The Cong–Viettel FC on October 14, 2026, at 19:15 WIB at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung in a pivotal Group E match of the 2026/2027 AFC Champions League Two. The match comes as Persib sits atop Group E with three points after defeating FC Seoul 1-0 in their opening fixture, while Viettel drew 1-1 with Melbourne Victory in their group opener.

Persib enters the match in strong form, remaining unbeaten through four consecutive matches across all competitions, including a 3-1 victory over Port FC and a 2-2 draw with Dewa United on October 11. The squad includes multiple players from Indonesia's victorious 2026 ASEAN Cup campaign, such as Ragnar Oratmangoen and Thom Haye, alongside experienced international players Sandy Walsh, Marc Klok, and Beckham Putra. However, the team faces a congested fixture schedule, having played just three days before the Asian fixture.

Viettel, a traditional Vietnamese powerhouse founded as Thể Công in 1954 with ties to the Vietnamese armed forces, has faced recent domestic challenges. The club has won six national championships, including the 2020 V.League 1 title, and finished as runners-up in the 2025/2026 V.League 1 season. Heading into the Persib match, Viettel has suffered two consecutive losses in V.League 2026/2027 to CAHN and Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh. The squad includes Brazilian forwards Lucas Ribamar and Hernandes Rodrigues, along with midfielder Wesley Natã.

Crucially, Persib coach Igor Tolic confirmed that defender Sandy Walsh, who was recovering from an injury sustained in July 2026 after his involvement with the Indonesian national team, is fit to play. However, Tolic has not yet confirmed whether Walsh will start or appear from the bench. The team also faces questions over center-back Gabriel Mutombo, who left the field early during the October 11 match against Dewa United and is undergoing medical evaluation.

Viettel requires at least one point to maintain realistic knockout stage qualification hopes in a group also containing Melbourne Victory and FC Seoul. The Vietnamese club faces an uphill battle away from home against a physically fresh opponent, though Persib's tight fixture schedule and possible defensive personnel changes present potential tactical openings. Viettel's coach Velizar Popov and his team are under pressure after the recent domestic setbacks, and a strong performance or positive result would provide both competitive relief and confidence recovery.