Krasnodar edged CSKA Moscow 1-0 in the Russian Cup group-stage opener at Krasnodar Stadium, with the home side claiming victory in a tight contest. The result reflected a disciplined performance from Krasnodar and a moment of decisive finishing when the chances arose.
The match’s early drama centered on a first-half goal attributed to Krasnodar forward John Cordoba in the 22nd minute, which was ruled out for offside after a VAR review. The incident kept the score level for the visitors until the second half when Bulls midfielder Kevin Lenini struck in the 52nd minute to break the deadlock. Lenini’s goal, arriving after a sustained spell of pressure, proved enough to secure the win for Krasnodar, who defended their lead with composure to seal the outcome. (citation: official match report)
In the 2023/24 campaign, Krasnodar and CSKA met twice in the Russian Premier League, each game finishing 1-0 in favor of Krasnodar. The context across seasons shows a rivalry with tightly contested fixtures, underscoring the tactical battles between the two clubs. In the prior 2022/23 season, the clubs faced off in the Russian Cup Super Final, where CSKA emerged victorious after a penalty shootout, highlighting the volatility and thin margins that have characterized their encounters. (citation: league records)
The 2024/25 season began with a pair of draws. Krasnodar were held at home by Akhmat with a 1-1 result and then drew 0-0 with Dynamo Makhachkala. Meanwhile CSKA opened with a goalless draw against Rostov, followed by a convincing 3-0 win in the second round over Paris NN, a result that signaled their intent as the campaign progressed. (citation: season summaries)
Earlier meetings added to the narrative around this fixture list, with Spartak slipping to defeat at the hands of Dynamo in a Russian Cup clash, a result that fed into the broader debate about the form and resilience of top-tier clubs in domestic cup play. (citation: competition records)