BFC Dynamo opened the 1976-77 DDR-Oberliga season away against city rivals 1. FC Union Berlin. The match was played at the Stadion der Weltjugend in front of 45,000 spectators. BFC Dynamo lost the match 0–1. The return match was played on 19 February 1977 and BFC Dynamo once again lost 0–1. These two losses would be the last defeats to 1. FC Union Berlin in the East German era. BFC Dynamo would come to win 19 of the next 21 matches against 1. FC Union Berlin in the DDR-Oberliga and FDGB-Pokal.