Rubin Kazan kicked off life under their new manager Leonid Sluskiy with a 1-0 win over Lechia Gdansk on Tuesday. Vyacheslav Podberezkin’s first-half strike was enough to hand them the win.

After dangerous attacks had led to attempts from Zuriko Davitashvili and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, Podberezkin slid a cleverly-disguised shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box after 35 minutes. After the game Slutsky commented on Davitashvili’s deployment as a number 10.

“In training he looked great in this position,” Slutsky told Rubin TV. “He plays there for his national team and it is his natural position.”

New signing Ivan Ignatyev was given the second 45 minutes but made little impression. Slutsky explained that the youngster had been recovering from illness, but that he was happy with Ignatyev’s performance.

Rubin take on Slovan Bratislava next on 25 January.

Rubin 1-0 Lechia Gdansk
21 January, Belek, Turkey
Goal: Podberezkin 34’

First half: Dyupin, Danchenko, Starfelt, Pliev, Poyarkov, Igor Konovalov, Podberezkin, Kvaratskhelia, Davitashvili, Makarov, Markov
Second half: Dyupin, Stepanov, Starfelt, Pliev, Samoshnikov, Tarasov, Bashkirov, Zuev, Davitashvili (Zakirov 58’), Tashaev, Ignatyev