Anzhi vs Izberbash - Cup

The history between Anzhi and Izberbash lends this Cup fixture an extra layer of spice, and when the two walk out at the home ground on July 28, 2026, recent encounters will be on everyone's mind. Ferencvaros v Real Madrid: Confirmed line-ups for Mourinho’s latest pre-season clash.

The two sides arrive with plenty to prove, and the Cup contest at the home ground offers a chance to lay down a marker. Anzhi's recent form is difficult to quantify, but the occasion itself should bring the best out of them. The visitors will back themselves to cause problems and will not make the trip expecting an easy afternoon. Paulo Fonseca's men are still smarting from their Champions League play-off exit but now sit third in the table.

Tactically, the contest promises a fascinating contrast. Anzhi will look to impose their style on home soil, while Izberbash are likely to have ideas of their own about how to gain the upper hand. In attack, Brazilian forward Kaua Elias has emerged as a name of interest, with United scouts watching the Shakhtar Donetsk striker after his hat‑trick against Kudrivka on Monday.

The fixture features no shortage of talent, and the league's top marksman Matheus Reis — 1 goals this term — will be one to watch. How each side deals with the other's danger men — and who takes their chances when they come — will be central to the outcome. The ex-AC Milan midfielder superbly set up Ait-Nouri's opener before he restored City's lead with a fine low finish across goal from Semenyo's inventive backheel assist.

The market has yet to form a strong view, and the contest looks genuinely difficult to call. The signals point towards a stalemate, with the two sides closely matched across form and standings. A 1-1 draw is easy to envisage. The ramifications of this result could ripple through the Cup standings for weeks to come, regardless of who comes out on top. And Fonseca does not place too much weight on the decision of Roberto Martinez to omit him from the World Cup squad in favour of his Benfica team-mate Tomas Araujo.