Dynamo Aims to Pull Off Another Cup Upset Against Schalke

Dynamo Dresden is hoping for another cup upset against Schalke—just like twelve years ago in their own stadium. Back then, the team from Dresden defeated Schalke 2-1. “You’re always excited when you have games like this, especially at home. If you make it through a few rounds, you can achieve something special,” said coach Thomas Stamm ahead of Wednesday’s second-round match against Bundesliga club FC Schalke 04 (6:00 p.m./Sky). 

Even though a home win is a goal in itself, “since we’re playing against a first-division team, Schalke is the clear favorite. Our expectation is to advance to the next round,” emphasized Stamm, who recently watched Schalke play himself. “With their style of play—and in terms of content as well—they’ve always put on very solid performances,” he said, emphasizing his team’s own strengths: “It’ll be about staying solid and capitalizing on good transition moments.” 

Schalke Facing Injury Worries

While Dresden didn’t face any additional personnel issues following their loss in Kiel, Schalke is struggling with personnel concerns after their 0-0 draw in Cologne in the Bundesliga. The bloody head-to-head collision between Robin Gosens and Soufiane El-Faouzi exacerbated the already tense situation for coach Miron Muslic, who has seen “eight starters sidelined within a few days.” Muslic “does not expect any players to be fit in time for Wednesday.” Schalke has gone four competitive games without a win, which is also due to a lack of firepower on offense.

Dynamo has a balanced record against Schalke, with five wins and five losses (three draws). Dresden won the only cup match between the two teams so far, a 2-1 home victory in 2014. For five-time cup champion Schalke, the cup run has always ended in the second round over the past five seasons. Dynamo last advanced beyond the second round in the 2014–2015 season, reaching the round of 16.