The Bulls Scored Three Goals but Still Lost to Viktoria Plzeň
FC Krasnodar 3-4 (1-2) FC Viktoria Plzeň
Goals: Kovařík, 11 (0-1), Čermák, 24 (0-2), Berg (Gazinsky), 39 (1-2), Suleymanov, 66 (2-2), Mihálik, 73 (2-3), Chorý, 76 (2-4), Fernandes (Suleymanov), 82 (3-4).
Missed penalty kick: Berg, 66.
FC Krasnodar: Sinitsyn, Ramírez, Borodin, Martynovich, Stotsky, Vilhena, Olsson, Gazinsky, Fernandes (Apekov, 83), Suleymanov, Berg.
FC Viktoria Plzeň: Hruška, Brabec, Limberský (Mihálik, 57), Hejda, Kayamba (Chorý, 74), Řezník (Kopic, 74), Kovařík (Mihálik, 57), Čermák (Hořava, 43), Kalvach, Bucha, Beauguel (Havel, 74).
Referees: Mazuela, Barba, Sánchez (all Spain).
7 February 2020. Spain. Marbella. Estadio Municipal de Marbella. Clear. 16 degrees. 100 spectators.
FC Krasnodar held two scrimmages with different squads at the Marbella training camp on 7 February. The black-greens met FC Viktoria Plzeň in the morning and tested themselves against Mjøndalen IF in the afternoon. The starting lineup, that could be more or less deemed the first team, was fielded to play against the Czech team.
Viktoria Plzeň is about to resume their Fortuna liga campaign soon, and in the first half they unleashed strong pressing against the Bulls. The Krasnodar experimental formation in the midfield (Olsson played as a defensive midfielder and Gazinsky tried himself as the number ten) escaped that pressing with difficulties, partially due to a far from perfect pitch of the local Estadio Municipal. The Viktorka scored twice before the half-time. On the 11th minute a low cross by Bucha was converted into a scored goal by Jan Kovařík, and mid-through the first half Aleš Čermák met a high cross into the centre of the box with a header making the score 2-0.
FC Krasnodar then snatched the initiative away and made the score equal. On the 39th minute Marcus Berg shortened the gap after a skilled pass by Gazinsky when he avoided Hruška and scored against an empty goal at a sharp angle with the ball bouncing off the goalpost. On the 66th minute the ball hit an arm of a defender after a shot by Berg, and Mazuela the ref called for a penalty kick. The Sweden national team striker volunteered to personally execute it, and while the Czech goalie coped with his shot, Magomed-Shapi Suleymanov still finished the rebound. 2-2.
The Viktoria team made a series of substitutions in the attacking line, and freshly-fielded players launched a new wave of pressing. It won them the game. On the 73rd minute Ondřej Mihálik beat the Krasnodar defenders at the 18-yeard line and shot the ball into the corner of the net. A few minutes later Tomáš Chorý won the second ball after a save by Sinitsyn and finished it.
The Bulls replied with a single goal by Manuel Fernandes who made good use of a sharp pass by Suleymanov. FC Krasnodar scored three goals against the Czech First League vice-champion, but it did not prove enough even for a tie.
