Videoton FC are in Hungarian cup action on Wednesday evening at the Groupama Arena in Budapest.
Ferencvaros currently lead the OTP Bank league table by 18 points. They have also met expectations in the Hungarian cup this season, which has seen them reach the final 16. FTC entered the cup, just like Vidi, at the third round stage, and beat Nagyecsed 10-0. Their goals that day came from Busai (4), Haris (2), Lamah, Varga, Nagy and Lakatos. Next up in the final 32 was a tie against Csakvar, which saw them win the first leg 4-1, and lose the return leg 4-3. That gave the green and whites an aggregate win of 7-5. Goals against Csakvar came from Busai, Leandro, Sestak, Varga, Böde, Pintér and Hajnal.
Two big names left the Budapest club during the winter break. David Holman returned from a loan spell with Polish side Lech Poznan, before switching straight away to Debrecen. Zsolt Haraszti was another to depart as he joined Videoton FC. German duo Florian Trinkset and Greuter Furth arrived.
FTC started their pre-season on the 6th January, which included a training camp in Turkey. They have played 6 friendly games over the last one month, winning four, drawing one and losing the remaining one. Roland Varga was top goalscorer during these games as he found the back of the net 6 times.
FTC pre-season friendlies:
January 13.: FTC–Bonyhád 17–0 (Varga R., Sesták 3-3, Busai, Lamah, Dragóner F. 2-2, Gera, Hajnal, Leandro, Csukics, owngoal)
January 16.: FTC–Zemplín Michalovce (Nagymihály; Slovakian) 2–0 (Nagy D., Kárász)
January 23., Belek: Paderborn (German II.)–FTC 1–0
January 26., Belek: Wisla Kraków (Polish)–FTC 2–2 (Varga R., Nagy D.)
January 29., Belek: Hajduk Split (Croatian)–FTC 2–4 (Radó, Varga R., Trinks, Busai)
February 4.: DVSC–FTC 2–3 (Lamah, Varga R., Radó)
Vidi will now meet FTC over two matches for a place in the final 8 of the Hungarian cup. The return leg will be played in Felcsut on the 2nd March.
Author: David Rechnitzer