​2. Bundesliga preview: Dynamo Dresden vs. 1. FC MagdeburgDynamo Dresden and 1. FC Magdeburg renew their fierce East German rivalry on Sunday afternoon, with the hosts desperate for points and the visitors looking to maintain their impressive start to the campaign. The 80th meeting between the two sides, widely known as the Elb-Clásico, promises a charged atmosphere as Thomas Stamm’s men attempt to halt their slide towards the relegation zone and Petrik Sander’s Magdeburg look to strengthen their position in the promotion race.Dresden have endured a difficult return to the 2. Bundesliga, collecting just five points from their opening seven matches. One win, two draws and four defeats have left Stamm’s side 16th in the table, with their defensive vulnerabilities proving particularly costly. They have conceded 15 goals so far, leaving them with one of the weakest defensive records in the division.Their only league victory came against Darmstadt in August, and the wait for another three-point haul has continued over the subsequent five fixtures. Dresden have struggled to turn encouraging spells into results, with their most recent outing ending in a 1-1 draw away to VfL Osnabrück.The visitors took the lead in that encounter, leaving Dresden facing another frustrating afternoon before they found a late equaliser. The result at least prevented a fourth defeat in five matches, but Stamm will know that his team must improve considerably if they are to overcome a Magdeburg side arriving in confident mood.The Dresden coach has acknowledged the importance of winning the battle for possession and intensity in Sunday’s derby, stressing that his players must be proactive rather than allowing the occasion to overwhelm them.“It’s about activity,” Stamm said in the club’s pre-match preview, highlighting the need for his side to impose themselves on the contest. He also warned that the emotional nature of the fixture could provide an opportunity to swing the momentum in Dresden’s favour.The hosts will be hoping that the backing of a sold-out Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion can provide the extra impetus needed to turn their season around. More than 30,000 supporters are expected, including almost 2,800 travelling Magdeburg fans, ensuring that the atmosphere should match the significance of the occasion.Dresden’s recent record in this fixture offers some encouragement. They won 2-1 away at Magdeburg in their most recent meeting, overturning an early deficit to claim a valuable victory. However, the reverse fixture from last season remains a source of motivation for the visitors, who will be determined to respond in Sunday’s encounter.Magdeburg, meanwhile, have enjoyed a much stronger opening to the campaign. Four wins, one draw and two defeats have earned Sander’s side 13 points from their first seven matches, placing them fourth in the table and firmly in the early promotion conversation.Their recovery from a disastrous opening-day 6-1 defeat to Ei