Nuremberg and Dresden set for 2. Bundesliga season opener
The Max-Morlock-Stadion hosts the season’s first fixture as Miroslav Klose’s side face Thomas Stamm’s Dresden in a clash with contrasting objectives.
1. FC Nuremberg and Dynamo Dresden are scheduled to commence their 2. Bundesliga campaigns on Sunday at the Max-Morlock-Stadion, marking the start of a season defined by diverging ambitions for the two traditional clubs. Nuremberg, managed by Miroslav Klose in his third season, enter the fixture with promotion as their primary objective, having finished 10th and eighth in the previous two campaigns.
Klose has overseen a significant restructuring of the squad, integrating eight new players to offset departures including Fabio Gruber and Luka Lochoshvili. The club’s pre-season preparations have yielded an unbeaten record, comprising four wins and one draw, with strikers Piet Scobel and Mohamed Ali Zoma each netting four goals during the five-match run. Despite the positive form, Klose has emphasised the necessity of a strong start to the league campaign, citing the unpredictability of the division.
“We don’t want a repeat of last year’s start to the season,” Klose stated, noting that “crazy things” frequently occur within the 2. Bundesliga. His immediate focus remains on securing a favourable opening result, with the broader strategy to be assessed game by game as the season progresses.
Dynamo Dresden, promoted in 2025, are in their second consecutive season in the second tier and are focused on avoiding the relegation battle that narrowly escaped them last term. The club secured safety on the final day of the previous season with a 2-1 victory over Holstein Kiel. Head coach Thomas Stamm has retained the core of his squad, welcoming back Ben Bobzien, Thomas Keller, Jonas Sterner, and Robert Wagner on permanent deals after loan spells, while adding Nicolai Rapp as a free agent.
Stamm has acknowledged the challenge posed by Nuremberg, describing them as a team characterised by “intensity, courage, technique, pace, and passion.” He affirmed that his side is prepared to deliver a balanced performance, with approximately 7,000 travelling supporters expected to travel to the Max-Morlock-Stadion. The two clubs split their meetings last season, each securing one victory, setting the stage for a competitive start to the current campaign.
