Krylia Sovetov beat Makhachkala 2:1 in the opening Group Stage match of the Cup on 4 August 2026. Denis Makarov opened the scoring before Vladimir Khubulov pulled one back, but Christophe Geoffrey's second-half strike settled it. The visitors move into a better position in the group with that win.
It started well enough for the away side. Makarov found space and finished cleanly in the fifteenth minute, and here's the thing — Makhachkala handed J. Dapo an early chance on the hour before the break. The home side had three yellows on the night, while Krylia Sovetov picked up just one for Costanza.
Changes came immediately after the interval. Oleynikov and Alarcon both stepped onto the pitch at the restart, and within seconds Khubulov levelled. By then Mastouri had already taken a yellow, and the game shifted direction without much ceremony.
Geoffrey made it two in the sixty-third minute after Makarov came off for Kramaric. Azzi went to the referee's pocket on sixty-six, the same minute Khubulov was withdrawn, and Sandrachuk arrived for Makhachkala in the seventy-first.
Three yellow cards for the hosts against one for the visitors. No reds in either half, no late drama beyond the substitutions. The result leaves Krylia Sovetov with momentum after a run that included draws and losses.