Zagreb Syndrome: Krasnodar started with a defeat in the Europa League playoffs due to three goalkeeper mistakes

The only Russian club that continues to play on the international arena, before starting in the Europa League playoffs, looked vulnerable in comparison with the opponent.

Unlike Krasnodar, the Zagreb Dynamo, which arrived in the Kuban, did not take a break for a winter break in the domestic championship - and since mid-December they have maintained a competitive tone.

Together with him, the emotional background of the Croats grew: in two months, Zoran Mamic's players lost only twice, thanks to which they became the leaders of the national championship.

And therefore, against the “bulls” who received practice only at the training camp in the Emirates and Spain, the guests came out much more fresh and well-played.

This seriously affected the initial segment of the meeting, during which Dynamo moved faster, and decisions were made more quickly than opponents.

And if Alexander Martynovich and Kayo still opposed the transfers from the depth of the field behind the backs to the central defenders, then the four defenders of Krasnodar did not have time for transfers from flank to flank.

At first, this simply led to dangerous overhangs, which, following the partners with mistakes, were read by the debutant of the Europa League Yevgeny Gorodov.

The Croats forgave, although the goalkeeper was overly nervous when playing on the outs.

But on the 15th minute, Dynamo's attack with the loosening of the opponents' defense from edge to edge of the field horizontally ended in a goal.

When the guests burst into the free zone under the diagonal of the Towns, the blow pulled.

But against finishing, he gave up - the central defenders, who were frozen to the spot, did not help either.

In the autumn segment of the tournament, the Croats, having gained an advantage, rolled back into a low defensive block and "dried" the match.

By adjusting to the opponent, they simplified their actions and waited for a chance to counterattack in order to increase the advantage.

The tactics are ambiguous, but they gave results due to teamwork and discipline in connections between the lines and within the links.

At the end of the group stage, it was Zagreb that had the best defense of the rally, as they conceded the entire ball.

The author of that blow was made by midfielder of Moscow CSKA Kristiyan Bistrovich.

The experience of the compatriot team Krasnodar took into service in the 28th minute, when Markus Berg equalized the score.

This was preceded by a ten-minute dominance of the hosts.

It was expressed not only in the percentage of possession of the ball (61 to 39), but also in the debugging of team actions in the transition phase.

Already the Russians flank connections Igor Smolnikov and Evgeny Chernov pressed the opponent to the goal of Dominik Livakovich.

And then, with increased pressure and along the vertical axis, they provoked a number of positional errors of the Croats, which led to the removal of the ball by Luka Ivanushits straight onto Berg's leg.

Krasnodar played the end of the half from a position of strength, grabbing Dynamo with pressure in the other half.

But they failed to build on the success after the break: Gorodov's mistake in the 53rd minute knocked the Russians out of the attacking rhythm.

With a corner, the goalkeeper played unsuccessfully at the exit, allowing Petkovic to issue a double.

Before that, however, Eugene helped out his partners by pulling out a difficult ball at the end of the first half.

But the positional miss nullified the encouraging rescue effect.

However, the second conceded goal did not break Krasnodar.

Substitution of Wanderson added creativity to the hosts' midline.

And more and more often the midfielders bursting in from the depths turned out to be the tactical change of Murad Musaev, for which Zoran Mamich and his charges were not ready.

For a quarter of an hour after Petkovic's goal, the guests consistently missed the blow to the far corner of Smolnikov after the flank connection, as well as the interaction of Tony de Vilhena and Berg - the Dutchman brought the Swede one-on-one with a gorgeous pass, but the judges canceled the goal due to offside.

And finally, the guests “slept through” the multi-move in the 69th minute, when Remi Kabela cut off four Dynamo players with a sprint pass into Berg's penalty area, and the striker no less effectively rolled the ball under the impact of Viktor Klasson, who came at the second pace.

Even the replacement of Mamic did not fix the vulnerability of the Croats - the end of the meeting the “bulls” opened the defense of the guests with clever passes from the depths, creating dangerous moments.

But it didn't work out very well with the completion.

Dynamo, on the other hand, actually realized their only moment.

The hero of the evening Petkovich dribbled away from four guardians and helped Ivanushitsa open up in the center.

He transferred the ball to the empty flank of Eli Atemven, who for the third time in the evening upset Gorodov.

Part of the blame for the missed goal again fell on the goalkeeper - a shot into the near corner did not look too much to take.

The final 2: 3 significantly complicated the life of Krasnodar before leaving for Croatia.

After all, a large number of goals conceded in their field requires aggressiveness from the team in Zagreb.

Whereas Dynamo punishes in an exemplary manner for overly open play with counterattacks.

At home, Musaev's team felt it in full.

It is difficult to find an effective tactical alternative to the game of active pressure with a minimum of time before the return meeting.

However, it is possible.

The main thing is to believe in the team.