VfB Stuttgart travel to third-division Dynamo Dresden in the first round of the DFB Cup on Friday evening, kicking off at 18:00 CEST. “You can tell that we’ve put in good work,” head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo told the media ahead of the game. “But at the same time, the lads are aware that it’s merely been preparation, nothing more. Now it counts and for us, all that matters is advancing in the cup.”
A difficult task awaits Stuttgart against a Dresden side who kicked off their league campaign last weekend and harbour ambitions of an immediate return to Bundesliga 2 from the third tier. “Our players are prepared for a cup battle and the likely intensity of the match,” added Matarazzo. “I can definitely imagine Dresden putting in a courageous performance in front of their home fans.”
Fabian Bredlow in goal
Personnel-wise, Matarazzo will be without Lilian Egloff, Wahid Faghir, Borna Sosa and Sasa Kalajdzic due to injury, while Thomas Kastanaras, Nikolas Nartey and Tanguy Coulibaly remain long-term absentees. Fabian Bredlow will definitely be involved, continuing his role as Stuttgart’s cup goalkeeper. Needless to say, Bredlow and his teammates will do all they can to make sure VfB reach the next round.