Dukla Banská Bystrica vs Tatran Prešov

The match's decisive moment arrived in the 88th minute. With Prešov enjoying their best spell after Dukla's second-half reshuffle, the visitors were awarded a penalty. Trialist goalkeeper Jakub Trefil — on loan from SK Sigma Olomouc — dived the right way and saved the spot-kick to preserve a clean sheet on his unofficial debut for the club.

Minutes earlier, in the 65th minute, Prešov had already struck the woodwork, signalling that the momentum had shifted firmly away from the first-half hosts.

Jakub Trefil (Dukla Banská Bystrica) — The 25-year-old Czech goalkeeper, on trial from Sigma Olomouc, made the save of the match from the 88th-minute penalty. He played the full 90 minutes across both halves and also dealt capably with Prešov's increased second-half pressure. "The purpose of the friendly was fulfilled," Trefil said via the club's official site.

Róbert Polievka (Dukla Banská Bystrica) — The experienced forward, one of Dukla's headline summer arrivals, was the home side's most dangerous attacker in the first half, particularly from set-piece situations that troubled the Prešov defence.

Mikuláš Bakaľa (Dukla Banská Bystrica) — The defender, who returned to Slovakia after spells in the Netherlands and Poland, anchored the backline across both halves and offered a composed presence. "For a first game after the break we looked quite good," he told the club's website.

• Dukla fielded two entirely different starting XIs across the two halves — 11 players in the first 45 minutes and a different 11 in the second — a clear signal that fitness and squad rotation were the priorities over match result.
• Tatran Prešov made 10 substitutions over the course of the game, per the match timeline.
• Dukla had clear territorial dominance in the opening period but could not convert pressure into goals, an area assistant coach Marek Bažík acknowledged needed work: "In attack we maybe lacked quality and composure in the final third."
• After the 60th minute, Prešov took control. Bažík noted the team had "problems with pressing and closing down" in the latter stages.

For Dukla Banská Bystrica, this was the first of several pre-season friendlies as they build towards the 2026/27 Niké Liga season. Their next friendly is away at FC ViOn Zlaté Moravce-Vráble on 27 June 2026. For Tatran Prešov, the match forms part of preparations for the upcoming 2. Liga campaign.

The performance highlighted Dukla's need to sharpen their final-third execution, while the late defensive solidity — particularly Trefil's penalty save — offered encouragement for the weeks ahead.

A predictable pre-season opener in which fitness, minutes and trialist evaluations mattered far more than the scoreline. Dukla's first-half control was promising; their second-half drop-off was instructive. Trefil's penalty save was the standout moment in an otherwise workmanlike friendly.

• MFK Dukla Banská Bystrica official report: https://mfkdukla.sk/aktuality/dukla-otvorila-letnu-pripravu-remizou-s-presovom
• Bystricoviny.sk match report: https://www.bystricoviny.sk/sport/futbalova-dukla-odstartovala-letne-pripravne-zapasy-v-kremnicke-bez-golov-s-tatranom-presov-v-branke-bol-trefil/
• BBonline.sk match report: https://bbonline.sk/dukla-aj-s-novymi-posilami-na-uvod-pripravy-remizovala-s-presovom-bakala-vyzerali-sme-celkom-fajn/
• Betmana.co.uk match page: https://betmana.co.uk/football/match/world/friendlies_clubs/season-2026/2026-06-24/1554508-dukla-banska-bystrica-vs-tatran-presov/