After the UEL match against Bayer Leverkusen, our defending Hungarian champions and UEL round of eight participant team played against Puskás Akadémia in the 23rd round of the OTP Bank League on Sunday, 12 March. Our head coach Stanislav Cherchesov made several changes to the starting eleven compared to the midweek clash, as he opted for Dibusz - Wingo, Kovacevic, Knoester, Botka - Sigér, Vécsei, Boudjemaa - Traoré, Baden Frederiksen, Gojak. Mehdi Boudjemaa, who arrived from Hataysport in Turkey, was given his first chance as a member of the starting XI.

First half

We had to wait until the eighth minute for the first chance of the game, but Dibusz easily saved Felcsút's header. Six minutes later, Gruber stepped up and fired into the side netting, but the side referee had already raised his flag for offside. A minute later Baden Frederiksen was on target for the visitors but Markek saved.

In the 22nd minute, Vécsei shot from the left wing, Baden Frederiksen arrived and managed to poke in a cross from the Hungarian midfielder, but his attempt missed the goal by inches. Five minutes later, Komáromi gave Puskás Akadémia the lead (0-1). After half an hour of play, the ball was passed between Gojak, Baden, Vécsei and Traoré, and finally our Malian striker shot, but Markek was well positioned and saved.

A minute later, Boudjemaa threatened with a left footed effort, but it missed the target. In the 37th minute, Puljic shot into the empty goal from close range (0-2). Five minutes before the end of the first half, Dibusz was well out of his goal to save a close range effort from the visitors.

Second half

We made two changes at the break, with Baráth and Auzqui replacing Vécsei and Traoré.

In the 49th minute, Baráth, who was sent on as a substitute and was playing his first league match for Ferencváros, shot but missed the target. Three minutes later, Wingo tried to score from outside the penalty area, but Markek saved. In the 57th minute Puljic got his second yellow card and we played with a man advantage for more than 30 minutes.

In the 59th minute Sigér and Baden Frederiksen left the pitch, replaced by Ryan Mmaee and Marquinhos. Moments later, Botka got on the end of a pass from Marquinhos, but our Hungarian defender's shot missed Markek's goal by inches. In the 67th minute we made another change, with Sagal replacing Gojak.

We increased the pressure on the visitors' defence, and they only managed to break free occasionally from their penalty area. Twenty minutes before the end of normal time, Marquinhos fired in a shot but the Brazilian winger missed the target. Five minutes later Sagal tried an effort from an unexpected position, but it failed to beat Markek.

As the game entered the second half, Puskás Akadémia found themselves in a position after a counter-attack, but Dibusz saved a shot from the short side. In the six minutes of extra time we went forward and fought hard, and finally Botka scored (1-2). But we couldn't score again in the remaining time, and we lost 2-1.

Our men's football team will next take on German side Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Europa League round of 16 second leg tie at the Puskás Arena on Thursday 16 March at 21.00.