In this article, we preview SG Dynamo Dresden’s upcoming 2025-26 campaign, covering transfers, pre-season action, their possible starting lineup and a season prediction.
Dynamo Dresden are the second of two clubs to achieve promotion from the 3.Liga and get the opportunity to mix it with the best of the Bundesrepublik’s second tier next season. The giants from the east Germany clinched the runners-up spot behind Bielefeld but had a comfortable 5 points to spare over nearest rivals Saarbrucken. Despite defeat to Waldhof Mannheim in their second-last game, promotion was secured by virtue of Saarbrucken’s 4-2 collapse at Aachen.
Returning to the 2.Bundesliga for the first time since the 2021-22 season, Dresden under the tutelage of Thomas Stamm, ended the campaign as top scorers (71 goals) in the division with the second-best defensive numbers (40 goals conceded). The importance of Jakob Lemmer (third-most assists with 9) and second-highest goal-scorer Christoph Daferner (18 goals) cannot go unmentioned. While shot-stopper Tim Schreiber highlighted their robust rearguard with 11 clean sheets.
Transfers:
It has been relatively quiet on the transfer front for Dynamo thus far with perhaps their most important bit of business being the retention of Christoph Daferner. Although the 27-year-old marksman is valued at €700,000 by Transfermarkt.com, Dresden paid a little over a third of his valuation to Nurnberg – a bargain for an 18-goal striker. The arrival of Swedish-American offensive midfielder Nils Froeling from Hansa Rostock on a free could be key, while shot-stopper Lennart Grill (undisclosed from Union Berlin) looks likely to takeover goalkeeping duties.
In the departure lounge, Dynamo will probably miss the presence of Jonas Sterner the most. The 23-year-old’s loan has expired and will return to Holstien Kiel after a 34-game season which included 2 goals and 9 assists from right-back. Although highly-rated 19-year-old Mika Baur only provided a goal and an assist in 19 outings, the winger will no longer be available as his loan spell concluded when he re-joined SC Paderborn. No doubt recruitment will go on for the club as the season nears it’s start date.
Pre-season preparations:
Dynamo Dresden’s pre-season in Austria was a relatively short-lived one in truth which was preceded by a 7-0 win over FC Thuringen Weida. A second test against Austrian outfit SV Ried ended 3-1 to the club from east Germany with goals from Aljaz Cesar, Claudio Kammerknecht and Tony Menzel. Making tracks for Czechia, Dresden suffered a 4-2 defeat to Slavia Prague before returning to Germany. Last weekend’s test in the Volkswagen Cup saw Thomas Stamm’s men play two shortened matches. A 0-0 stalemate with FSV Zwickau was followed up with a 2-0 defeat to Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg.
Possible starting lineup:
(4-3-3) Grill (GK) – Faber, Boeder, Buenning, Risch – Hauptmann, Sapina, Casar – Lemmer, Daferner, Kother
Dresden are expected to stick with their tried and tested 4-3-3 formation with an alternative 4-1-4-1 setup. Lennart Grill has the necessary experience to become first-choice goalkeeper, while new signing Konrad Faber and Sacha Risch will assume full-back duties. Left-footed centre-half Lars Buenning should partner either Boeder or Kammernacht, unless the former shifts forward. Hauptmann, Sapina and Casar likely form the midfield trio behind the irreplaceable Jakob Lemmer and Christoph Daferner. The left flank is somewhat up for grabs but expect Dominik Kother or promising 20-year-old Tony Menzel to have a say – Nils Froeling could feature in midfield or on the right.
Predictions for the 2025-26 season:
Over the course of two- to four-year spells, Dynamo Dresden have become somewhat of a yo-yo club in terms of league placement. Almost two decades ago they lingered in the Regionalliga Nord before returning to the 3.Liga. Since then, one of eastern Germany’s most successful clubs has been ricocheting between the third and second tiers. After three consecutive campaigns in the third division, perhaps this is the time for a consistent spell in the 2.Bundesliga. However, survival seems almost impossible given opposing sides’ qualities and for that reason a 17th- or 18th-place relegation feels imminent.
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