Магнитогорск beat Салават Юлаев 3:2 in a club friendly on Friday, 29 August. The hosts held their nerve in a tight contest, despite Салават Юлаев pushing hard for an equaliser. Things came to a head late on, but Магнитогорск got over the line with a narrow victory.
There is not much to separate the sides on paper, but form tells a different story. Магнитогорск have won their last three friendlies, including a 6:5 thriller against Лада just yesterday. Салават Юлаев, by contrast, have lost two of their last three, dropping points against Хабаровск at home and away.
The recent results suggest Магнитогорск are finding their rhythm ahead of the new season. They beat Динамо Минск 6:3 on 15 August before edging Кунлун 3:2 the day after. Салават Юлаев managed a 4:1 win over Барыs on 17 August, but that has been their only victory in the last five friendlies.
The margin of victory was slim, and Салават Юлаев will want to look back on this one. They created enough chances to believe they could have taken something from the match. Магнитогорск, on the other hand, showed they can grind out results when the pressure is on.
The result keeps Магнитогорск on a good run, while Салават Юлаев need the points badly if they are to shake off their recent slump. Both teams are still shaping up, but the hosts have the momentum heading into the season.