FC Botosani vs Egnatia Rrogozhinë

Egnatia, preparing for their 2026/27 UEFA Champions League qualifying campaign, took control early in the friendly played at the Bulgarian mountain resort on 27 June. Striker Soumaila Bakayoko opened the scoring for the Albanian side, followed by a goal from Belgian-born midfielder Alessandro Albanese to put Egnatia firmly in front.

FC Botosani pulled one back through Denis Ștefan — the young midfielder featured in the YouTube match clip posted by the Romanian club's official channel under the title "Bansko 2026 | Amical: FC Botoșani 1-3 KF Egnatia (gol Denis Ștefan)." Denis had also appeared as a second-half substitute in Botosani's first pre-season friendly two days earlier.

However, Egnatia restored their two-goal cushion when forward Fernando added a third, sealing the 3-1 scoreline that held until full-time.

Botosani had shown signs of a fightback after Denis's goal, but Egnatia's quick response through Fernando — the third different goalscorer for the Albanian side — killed any momentum the Romanian team had built. The ability to rotate scorers across the frontline suggests Egnatia's depth is rounding into form ahead of European competition.

Soumaila Bakayoko — The Ivorian centre-forward, a physical presence up front, opened the scoring and led the line effectively throughout his minutes on the pitch. Bakayoko has been a consistent contributor for Egnatia since joining.

Alessandro Albanese — The Belgian attacking midfielder scored the second goal and linked play between midfield and attack. At 27, Albanese brings experience from Belgian football to the Albanian champions' setup.

Fernando — The third Egnatia goalscorer provided the finish that ultimately settled the contest. His goal sealed a win that capped a strong pre-season camp in Bansko.

Denis Ștefan — Botosani's sole bright spot. The midfielder scored the Romanian side's only goal and was one of several second-half substitutes introduced by manager Marius Croitoru after the break.

The provider payload registered a 1-3 final score with no half-time data recorded, which is common in friendlies where both teams make extensive changes at the break. The three different Egnatia goalscorers — Bakayoko, Albanese and Fernando — point to a well-distributed attack, while Botosani's single reply through a substitute suggests Croitoru used the full squad as he prepares for the new Liga I season. No yellow or red cards were recorded, indicating a clean, professional pre-season contest.

For Egnatia Rrogozhinë, this was the final pre-season test in Bansko before their competitive campaign begins. The Albanian champions will now turn their focus to UEFA Champions League qualifying, with their first European tie approaching in July.

For FC Botosani, this was the second of four friendlies scheduled during their Bansko camp (25 June–5 July). They opened with a 1-0 win over Scottish side Dunfermline Athletic on 25 June, then faced Egnatia on 27 June. Two more tests remain: Lokomotiv Sofia on 1 July and Bulgarian giants Ludogorets on 4 July. Manager Marius Croitoru is using the camp to integrate new signings and build fitness ahead of the Romanian SuperLiga season.

A routine pre-season win for the Albanian champions against a Botosani side that is clearly still in the early stages of its build-up. Egnatia's three well-taken goals and clean defensive display suggest they are further along in their preparations — exactly what you would expect from a team with European qualifiers on the immediate horizon.

Pre-season friendly statistics are limited. No official attendance, venue name, or detailed match event timeline was published.