Nürnberg secured a clean 3-0 win over Dynamo Dresden in the opening fixture of the 2. Bundesliga regular season on Sunday. The result leaves the hosts in second place with four points from their first two games, while Dresden drop to 17th after three losses in four matches.
And here's the thing — Nürnberg dominated from the outset, registering 95 attacks against Dresden's 73. Their expected goals figure of 2.23 matched the scoreline more closely than Dresden's 1.96 xG suggested, especially given the visitors managed only one shot on target all day.
To be fair, Dresden did create something, but the quality of chances told the story. Six big chances created by Nürnberg compared to just two for the visitors. The shot accuracy gap was stark: 44 per cent versus 10 per cent, and that discrepancy explains why the scoreline felt comfortable rather than lucky.
By then, Nürnberg had already established control with 56 per cent possession and 218 passes into the opposition half. Dresden managed 161, but the difference in penetration mattered more than the raw numbers. The visitors attempted 15 crosses to Nürnberg's 11, yet only three landed successfully compared to four for the hosts.
The statistics also revealed a defensive discipline from Nürnberg. They committed just six fouls and picked up no cards, while Dresden picked up two yellows and committed 11 fouls. The discipline allowed Nürnberg to keep their shape and avoid disrupting their rhythm.
What this means for the table is straightforward. Nürnberg sit on 10 points after four games, two behind the top spot. Dresden remain three points from safety with three defeats already. The gap between them now feels wider than the points alone suggest.