2. Bundesliga preview: Eintracht Braunschweig vs. Dynamo Dresden

Preview, team news and predicted lineups as Eintracht Braunschweig welcome Dynamo Dresden to the Eintracht-Stadion on Saturday afternoon.

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In a meeting between two sides who have both endured difficult starts to the 2026/27 campaign, Eintracht Braunschweig and Dynamo Dresden will be desperate to return to winning ways when they meet on Saturday.

Braunschweig made an excellent start to the campaign, thrashing Magdeburg 6-1 on the opening weekend. However, that result has proved to be the exception rather than the rule, with the Lions subsequently losing three consecutive league matches.

After a narrow 1-0 home defeat to Bochum, Braunschweig suffered a 5-3 loss vs. Hertha BSC before falling to a 3-1 defeat away to newly promoted Osnabrück last weekend.

The latest setback extended their losing run to four matches in all competitions and highlighted the defensive problems that have emerged after their spectacular opening-day victory.

Braunschweig actually started the game in Osnabrück positively and had the better chances during a goalless first half. However, the hosts took control after the interval, with Daniel Kofi Kyereh, Bjarke Jacobsen and Robin Meißner putting Osnabrück three goals ahead before Yann Sturm scored a late consolation.

The defeat was particularly frustrating given that Braunschweig had conceded nine goals across their previous two matches against Hertha and Union Berlin. The focus this week will therefore inevitably be on tightening up at the back.  

Despite those defensive issues, Braunschweig’s attack has been one of the more productive in the division. They have scored 10 goals in their opening four matches, averaging more than two goals per game, meaning Dynamo will need to find a way of limiting the hosts’ attacking threat.

Dynamo Dresden arrive in a similarly precarious position.

Thomas Stamm’s side have won just once in their opening four games, with defeats to Nürnberg, Heidenheim and Bochum surrounding their only victory, a 1-0 success over Darmstadt.

Their latest outing saw them beaten 2-1 at home by Bochum last Saturday. Dresden took the game to their opponents for long periods but ultimately paid the price for failing to turn their opportunities into goals.

Koji Miyoshi’s first-half double put Bochum in control, while Ben Bobzien’s goal just before the break gave Dresden hope. Tobias Raschl came close to finding an equaliser when his effort struck the inside of the post, but the hosts were unable to rescue a point.

The result left Dresden with three defeats from four matches and raised further questions about their start to the campaign. Stamm admitted afterwards that the situation was not what the club had envisaged, with the trip to Braunschweig now providing an immediate opportunity to change the mood.

“Winning next week in Braunschweig would help,” Stamm said following the defeat to Bochum.

One of the major concerns for Dresden has been their defensive stability. Like Braunschweig, they have already conceded 10 goals, while Stamm’s side have also struggled to consistently reproduce the performances that helped them secure their place in the 2. Bundesliga last season.

Saturday therefore represents a significant opportunity for both teams. A victory for either side would provide a much-needed boost and potentially move them away from the relegation places, while another defeat could increase the pressure considerably.

There is also recent history favouring the hosts. Braunschweig won both meetings between the sides last season, including a 2-1 victory at the Eintracht-Stadion. They also triumphed 3-2 in Dresden, meaning Dynamo are still waiting for their first points against Die Löwen since returning to the second tier. 

With both sides struggling defensively and desperate for points, Saturday’s encounter has the potential to be an open contest, particularly if either defence fails to improve on its recent performances.

Team news

Eintracht Braunschweig: Robin Heußer and Fredrik Jäkel are unavailable for this one. 

Dynamo Dresden: Lars Bünning, Christoph Daferner and Kenneth Schmidt are set to miss out. 

Predicted lineups

Eintracht Braunschweig (4-2-3-1): Hoffmann; Aydin, Ehlers, Hoti, Katterbach; Flick, Marie; Tempelmann, Urbich, Opoku; Sturm 

Dynamo Dresden (4-2-3-1): Schreiber; Sterner, Keller, Müller, Rossipal; Wagner, Rapp; Okpala, Hauptmann, Bobzien; Vermeij.