After Thursday’s vital 3-2 win at home to Hamburger SV, Matarazzo’s team are desperate to pick up another three points at Dynamo Dresden on Sunday (kick-off 13:30 CEST). “That success has given us an enormous amount of energy,” said the VfB boss. “It’s important that we channel that energy in the right way. We have to realise that we can only beat Dynamo Dresden if we show similar commitment and performance levels as we did in the second half against HSV. We need to stay disciplined. It’s important that we don’t get impatient and that we stay alert to counter-attacks.”
“Everyone’s raring to go”
Sunday’s game is Dresden’s first since the restart after some of their players tested positive for COVID-19, meaning the entire squad had to go into quarantine. Matarazzo has faced Dynamo once before as VfB boss, however, overseeing a 3-1 friendly win back in January. “They’ll certainly be intent on winning the game,” he said. “After two weeks in quarantine it’s not an easy start for Dresden. I’m expecting very lively opponents who’ll make life difficult for us - particularly in the early stages. They also have a very experienced coach in Markus Kauczinski.”
With Holger Badstuber suspended, captain Marc Oliver Kempf is likely to return to the VfB starting line-up against Dynamo. Daniel Didavi and Atakan Karazor are also available again after missing Thursday’s game through suspension, while fit-again Sasa Kalajdzic is in contention after making his first competitive start for the club against HSV. “He deserves to be on the pitch due to his efforts in training,” Matarazzo said of the 22-year-old. “He’s shown that he can hurt opponents and that he’s clinical in front of goal. [But] everyone’s raring to go and everyone played their part in helping us come from behind against Hamburg.”