Stuttgart (dpa / lsw) – Bundesliga soccer club VfB Stuttgart has to do without Sasa Kalajdzic and Borna Sosa in the first DFB Cup round at third division Dynamo Dresden on Friday (6 p.m. / Sky). Goalscorer Kalajdzic has largely recovered from his ankle problems, as coach Pellegrino Matarazzo announced on Thursday. The game in Dresden would come too early for the Austrian. “He’s pain free and will get back into running practice this weekend,” said Matarazzo. It is “very realistic” that the striker will be an option again at the start of the league on August 7th against RB Leipzig.
According to Matarazzo, full-back Sosa, who mostly missed the pre-season due to adductor problems or played individually, should complete further tests at the beginning of next week and return to team training on Wednesday. The talents Lilian Egloff (hit on the calf) and Wahid Faghir (pubic irritation) also fail against Dynamo. Midfielder Orel Mangala, who is set to make a move, will also be absent. As in previous cup games, substitute keeper Fabian Bredlow should guard the goal.
Dresden is “certainly not a pleasant lot,” said Matarazzo. “It’s a challenge to play there.” He expects a “very, very heated atmosphere”, but VfB wants to accept the role of favourites.
