Sergey Galitsky made his money from founding a Russian supermarket chainIn the age of the super-club, the Champions League will arrive in rare new territory on Wednesday when Chelsea land in southern Russia. Their opponents are FC Krasnodar, upstarts by anyone's measure, but this is a club with a uniquely compelling twist. The game, the club's first ever home Champions League group-stage match, is a sellout - within the Covid-19 restrictions allowed by the Russian authorities. Yet while cynical Russians cheered Zenit's 2-1 Champions League defeat by Club Bruges last week, Galitsky's Krasnodar have become everybody's second-favourite team. The pace of change - from the regional leagues to the Champions League in 12 seasons - has startled all except those who have seen it from the inside.

Source: BBC October 28, 2020 06:56 UTC