Dejan vs Barito Putera - Liga 2

Dejan prepare to host Barito Putera at the home ground on October 18, 2026, with both sides eager to assert their credentials and claim a result that could define their Liga 2 season. It has not been a daunting fixture list but there are signs that Mourinho has found a way to get the best from an increasingly stacked Madrid squad.

The two sides arrive with plenty to prove, and the Liga 2 contest at the home ground offers a chance to lay down a marker. Dejan will be keen to seize the initiative and build some momentum on home soil. Barito Putera's away form is hard to read, but they will arrive with the belief that they can trouble their hosts. In what is arguably the most pointed contrast to Chelsea's recruitment strategy of recent years, Andrich was almost 25 years old when he made his Bundesliga debut for Union Berlin.

The tactical battle could prove decisive. Dejan may lean on their home advantage to dictate the tempo, but Barito Putera have shown they can be dangerous when allowed to play on their own terms. Rico Lewis played at right-back, but when City were in possession he tucked infield and supported the midfield pairing of Mateo Kovacic and Reijnders.

Neither side is short on individuals capable of tilting the balance, and the duel between the two squads' chief creators could prove particularly pivotal. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. The agency Roc Nation are reportedly working on getting Real Madrid striker Endrick a transfer to the Premier League this summer.

The fixture has the feel of a coin-flip, and picking a winner with any conviction would require a braver pundit than most. The signals point towards a stalemate, with the two sides closely matched across form and standings. A 1-1 draw is easy to envisage. With positions in the Liga 2 table to defend and momentum to chase, neither side can afford to leave anything in the tank. Man United sent verdict on Luke Shaw's actions and Rodrigo Bentancur red in Tottenham draw.