Nitra came from behind on Tuesday to beat Zlín 7:3 in a friendly match played on 25 August 2026. By then the Slovaks had already established a reputation for their attacking intent, but this time the home side showed they were ready to match that intensity.
Twelve days earlier the same fixture ended 2:0 to Zlín, and the reversal was immediate. And here's the thing — when a team concedes that many goals, it usually means the defence had not found its rhythm yet. Nitra looked sharper in the final third.
Zlín's recent form had been mixed. They beat Dukla Trenčín 3:2 on 20 August but lost 4:2 to Žilina two days before that. Against Nitra they were able to score, but not enough to stay in the game. The away side was left flat-footed when the home side went behind.
Nitra's previous encounters with Zlín were limited to this single fixture, but the pattern of their season suggests they were building something. Earlier in the year they played Slovan Bratislava four times, winning three and losing one. This result could be read as part of that upward trajectory.
Seven goals for and three against is not a defensive masterclass, but the margin tells the story. Nitra made an improved offer of their attacking capabilities compared to the previous meeting, and Zlín's attacking threat was contained long enough for the hosts to take control.