After having beaten fellow Russian Premier Liga side Krylia Sovetov Samara 1-0 earlier in the day, FC Krasnodar were beaten by the same scoreline in the afternoon by Norwegians Molde. An almost full-strength side also included Egor Sorokin, whose short-term loan back to Rubin Kazan ended this winter.

Erling Knudtzon scored the only goal of the game a few minutes after half time when Nikolay Bochko failed to pick up his run into the six-yard box. Molde’s clever free kick had caught out the defence to create the crossing opportunity.

However, the early pressure had come entirely from FC Krasnodar. Magomed-Shapi Suleymanov rode a couple of heavy challenges before feeding Manuel Fernandes to chip a cross in to Tony Vilhena. The shot went harmlessly over.

Suleymanov’s high pressing then forced Molde’s defence into a loose pass that Marcus Berg hit straight at the keeper from 12 yards. Berg chested a left-wing cross down for Fernandes to curl just wide shortly after.

After Molde took the lead just into the second half FC Krasnodar continued to push forward. Berg’s first-time lay-off released Nikita Sergeev but the angle proved too tight for him to find a way past the outrushing keeper.

Egor Sorokin was key to a lot of the early pressure with his long-range passing. Berg latched onto one such pass over the top only to be tugged back, while another found Sergey Petrov on the right and led to a firm header from Sergeev.

The last chance fell to Molde with a smart flick over the top, but Stanislav Kritsyuk was alert to race out and smother the one-on-one.

FC Krasnodar have another double-header up next on Sunday as they face Malaga and RPL rivals FC Rostov.

FC Krasnodar 0-1 Molde
16 February, Marbella, Spain
Goal: Knudtzon (49’)

FC Krasnodar: Kritsyuk, Petrov, Martynovich (Bochko 39’), Sorokin, Ramirez, Gazinskiy, Fernandes (Sergeev 46’), Olsson, Vilhena, Suleymanov (Matsukatov 76’), Berg