Bar secured a narrow 1:0 victory over CSK VVS in a club friendly on Thursday evening. The match finished at 11:00 local time with the home side holding on for all three periods. Neither side managed to create much in the way of clear chances.
The result came as something of a relief for Bar after a difficult run. They had lost four of their previous five matches, including a heavy 1:6 defeat to Toros Neftekamsk just a day earlier. That result had left them looking for something to build on.
CSK VVS arrived in better mood. They had won their opening game against Almetyevsk 5:4 and showed more resilience in previous meetings with Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Three wins and two losses from five games gave them confidence heading into this fixture.
The match itself was tight from the start. Bar kept their shape and didn't let CSK VVS get any rhythm going. By then the visitors were searching for an opening that never materialised. One moment in the second period might have changed everything, but neither goalkeeper was called upon.
Bar's defensive work was the story of the game. They didn't need to attack much and simply held the tie in their own hands through careful positioning. The old head settled them down when CSK VVS pushed forward late on.
Both sides have now played two games in this pre-season window. Bar sit on one point from two matches while CSK VVS have three. The gap isn't large, but the result matters for momentum going forward.