Zenit St. Petersburg were beaten 3-2 by Norwegian club Lillestrom during a pre-season friendly in southeast Spain's La Manga on Friday.
The Russian club, who finished third in the Premier League in 2009, were 2-0 down by the 49th minute.
New signing Alexander Kerzhakov pulled one back in the 62nd minute before the Norwegians restored their two goal lead 17 minutes later.
Maksim Kannunikov got one back for the 2010/2011 Champions League participants with a minute to go, but the 2007 Russian title winners were unable to find a third.
Zenit are managed by former Roma trainer Luciano Spalletti, who took over as coach at the end of last season.
CSKA Moscow, who face Sevilla in a Champions League knockout first leg tie in Moscow on February 24, were due to face Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk in Spain's Marbella on Friday, but the game was called off due to bad weather.
MOSCOW, February 12 (RIA Novosti)
