SVWW narrow defeat to Champions in season finale
Pros |
History: In Saxony, there are no bigger and, if any, only a few more tradition-steeped sports clubs than "Sportgemeinschaft Dynamo Dresden". SGD was founded as part of the "Sportvereinigung Dynamo" (Dynamo Sports Association) in 1953 and won its first East German title that same year with a victory over BSG Wismut Aue (nowadays FC Erzgebirge Aue). Seven more titles, the same number of East German cups and numerous appearances in European competition followed, before the club was renamed 1. FC Dynamo Dresden following the political transformation in the GDR. It was only in 2007 that the club's members voted to return to the original name of SG Dynamo Dresden.
Stadium: The Dynamo home stadium – named after the Dresden-born track and field athlete Rudolf Harbig – is situated between the Old Town and the Grand Garden in Saxony's federal capital. Since its conversion into a purely footballing arena in 2009, the Black & Yellows' ground has had a capacity of 32,123.
Coach: Christian Fiel took over the coaching reins from Maik Walpurgis last season and was in the SGD dugout as they beat SVWW 1-0 in the reverse fixture. But the half-German, half-Spaniard's time at the helm was over only two rounds later, as Markus Kauczinski was appointed to the role following defeats to Hamburger SV and Holstein Kiel. The men from Saxony appeared to be returning to form prior to the corona break, with two wins against Regensburg and Aue narrowing the gap to their relegation rivals.
Personnel matters: SGD were one of the most active clubs in the winter break. In addition to midfielders Josef Husbauer (Slavia Prague) and Ondrej Petrak (1. FC Nuremberg), Kauczinski signed four attacking players in January. Terrazzino (SC Freiburg), Patrick Schmidt (1. FC Heidenheim), Godsway Donyoh (FC Nordsjaelland) and Simon Makienok were all brought in to give the lowest-scoring strikeforce in the second tier new momentum. The only problem was corona. In the week leading up to the restart, preparations were dealt a setback when three SGD players tested positive for the virus. The club watched the restart from quarantine, with training off the table for 14 days. Indeed, the Black & Yellows only resumed their league campaign when they took on Stuttgart on 31 May.