Back on Kaiserlinde – SVE welcome Dynamo Dresden

After a convincing test match victory in Wiesbaden and an intense international break, SV Elversberg are now seeking to continue their good early form in the league. On Sunday (1:30 p.m.), ambitious promoted team Dynamo Dresden will be heading to the URSAPHARM Arena on Kaiserlinde.

SV Elversberg have made a fitting impression in the first few weeks of the season: nine points in four matches, including a strong 2:0 away win against Hertha BSC – and a performance marked by variability, control of play, and a new affinity for set pieces. After their promotion drama against Heidenheim to round off the 2024 season, SVE are now finally back on track.

Vincent Wagner has made a clear mark in his short time with the team: more ball possession, more ball control, but the same rapid shifts – just no longer come hell or high water. This has been paired with significantly more structured play in the midfield. This new approach feels well-practised, even though the team have only been operating under Wagner for just over two months. ‘We are already playing well together, but we have more to offer’, Tom Zimmerschied put it in a nutshell.

The left winger, who was recently acquired from Dynamo Dresden for around 400,000 euros, has already become a firm fixture on the team. Although he has not yet scored in the first four games of the season, he is involved in virtually all of the attacking play. Wagner praised him for his space and direction, and made one thing clear: ‘If he took every opportunity, he would no longer be playing in the second division.’

Zimmerschied’s return to his former club Dynamo will not be a particularly emotional event.

Although I still know a few players there, they haven’t been able to play all season due to injury. I’m more at home in Elversberg than Dresden now.

The visiting team from Saxony have had a bumpy start so far and are currently thirteenth in the table with three points from four matches. However, no-one at Elversberg is making the mistake of underestimating them. Dynamo have definite ambitions for this season, as is clear from their players’ self-image.

Jakob Lemmer, who is a key player on the wing this season and very familiar with Elversberg, understands what is at stake: ‘Playing in this tiny little stadium is awkward. Elversberg pass the ball well, so we will probably start by chasing them all over the place.’ The Giessen native has played SVE several times in recent years – including with various clubs in the Regionalliga. His assessment is clear: ‘They have very good players’. Lemmer is expecting a ‘difficult match’ but believes that Dynamo are up to the task.

Elversberg pass the ball well, so we will probably start by chasing them all over the place.

Jakob Lemmer

Elversberg are able to put this in perspective. After a successful test in Wiesbaden, where they gained a well-earned 2:0 win despite huge amounts of rotation (and with Stange, Mickelson and Petkov off on international duty), the team are focussed. The goals were scored by Florian Le Joncour tapping in the ball after a corner and Jarzinho Malanga from a penalty – the latter player was celebrating his comeback after an injury and was promptly on hand. Wiesbaden also saw Wagner’s typical eleven: structured, confident with the ball, and consistently able to make set pieces endanger the goal.

A good omen? Definitely could be, as Elversberg have made significant process under Wagner, especially in terms of set pieces. Zimmerschied and Keidel are now regularly taking responsibility – unlike in the previous season, where this role was occupied by Damar and Neubauer. Wagner tested every player out on corners and throw-ins during preparations – and Zimmerschied impressed. This is now paying off.

Whether or not Otto Stange – a new arrival from HSV but not in the Wehen match – will feature in Sunday’s squad remains to be seen. The 18-year-old attacker was playing for the junior national team, but could invigorate the attacking ranks. His running pace and his creative ability to bear down on the goal are well suited to SVE’s style of play, as sports director Ole Book emphasised: ‘His creative play, speed, and closing ability are all vital attributes that will benefit our play.’
So the stage is well set. Elversberg are solid, varied in the attack, and made good use of the international break – with their sights set on a home game that could be another highlight in both sporting and emotional terms. They have huge respect for Dynamo, but are still determined to chalk up three points at home on Kaiserlinde.