Dinamo Makhachkala vs Leningradets

Playing their second match of their BETCITY training camp in St Petersburg, Dinamo Makhachkala switched to a single-striker formation, with top scorer Gamid Agalarov leading the line. The RPL side dominated possession against a Leningradets side that won promotion back to the Russian First League for the 2026-27 season, but the first half was a tighter affair than the final scoreline suggests.

The breakthrough came in the 28th minute when a foul on midfielder Javad inside the box earned Dinamo a penalty. Agalarov stepped up and converted confidently to make it 1-0 at the break.

Whatever head coach said at half-time, it worked immediately. Two minutes into the second half, defender Ilyas Akhmedov met a headed lay-off from a teammate and volleyed home to double the lead (47'). Before Leningradets could regroup, Temirkan Sundukov produced a moment of individual quality, curling a fine strike into the near top corner from distance (49') to make it 3-0.

Dinamo had further chances to extend the lead but the scoreline remained unchanged. The substitutions then flowed — by the end, only captain Mutalip Alibekov remained from the starting XI.

The two-minute, two-goal burst at the start of the second half killed the contest. Leningradets had held firm for most of the first period after Agalarov's penalty, but Akhmedov's header and Sundukov's stunning strike inside 120 seconds left them with a mountain too steep to climb. The quick double was a clear sign of Dinamo's superior fitness and sharpness in the early stages of pre-season.

• Gamid Agalarov — The striker opened the scoring from the penalty spot and led the line effectively as the lone forward in Dinamo's 4-2-3-1. His movement and hold-up play kept Leningradets' defence occupied throughout.
• Ilyas Akhmedov — The defender popped up with the crucial second goal moments into the second half, turning a 1-0 lead into a more comfortable cushion.
• Temirkan Sundukov — The other defender on the scoresheet, his curling effort into the near top corner was the pick of the goals and sealed the result.
• Mutalip Alibekov — The captain was the only player to remain on the pitch for the full 90 minutes, anchoring the midfield and organising the team through the wave of substitutions.

Player of the match: Gamid Agalarov.

Dinamo's 3-0 win reflected their dominance in the second half especially. The first period was a tighter affair, with only Agalarov's penalty separating the sides, but the scoreline was a fair representation of the gulf in class between an RPL side and a team that spent last season in the Russian Second League. Leningradets earned promotion back to the First League for 2026-27, but this friendly underlined the step up in quality they face.

Dinamo Makhachkala continue their pre-season preparations unbeaten after two friendlies. They finished 14th in the RPL in 2024-25, securing survival through the relegation play-offs with a 3-0 aggregate win over Ural. Their next friendly is scheduled for 7 July against Argentine side Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata.

Leningradets, who won Group Gold in the Russian Second League last season to earn promotion, are building towards life back in the First League. The defeat serves as a useful early test against top-flight opposition.

A professional pre-season workout for Dinamo Makhachkala, who controlled the match from start to finish and showed clinical finishing in the decisive second-half spell. Leningradets competed well in the first half but were outclassed after the break. The scoreline accurately reflected the difference in league level.