The road to Berlin continues tonight, Tuesday, February 3, 2026, as Bayer Leverkusen hosts relegation-threatened St. Pauli in a high-stakes DFB-Pokal quarter-final at the BayArena.
While Leverkusen is chasing a repeat of their 2023/24 domestic cup glory, St. Pauli is looking for a season-defining upset to distract from their difficult Bundesliga campaign.
Match Details
Fixture: Bayer Leverkusen vs FC St. Pauli
Competition: DFB-Pokal (Quarter-Finals)
Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Time: 19:45 UTC / 20:45 CET
Venue: BayArena, Leverkusen
Referee: TBD
Pre-Match Analysis
Bayer Leverkusen: Chasing Silverware
Under the guidance of Kasper Hjulmand, Die Werkself has found its rhythm again. Currently sitting 6th in the Bundesliga, Leverkusen enters this cup tie on the back of three consecutive wins, including an impressive 3-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt last Saturday.
Leverkusen has a formidable record in this competition, having won the trophy in 2024 and reaching the semi-finals in 2025. Their path to this year's quarter-final was cemented by a disciplined 1-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in the previous round.
St. Pauli: The Cup Specialist Underdog
St. Pauli’s league form has been bleak; they sit 17th in the Bundesliga and are winless in their last six league outings. However, the DFB-Pokal has been their sanctuary. They reached the final eight after a stunning 2-1 upset over Borussia Mönchengladbach in December.
Alexander Blessin’s side will be hoping for "Cup Magic" to prevail. To bolster their league-worst attack, they recently signed Japanese forward Taichi Hara, who could make his debut tonight.
Team News & Injury Reports
Bayer Leverkusen Team News
Hjulmand is missing several key creative players. Ibrahim Maza, the hero of the Dortmund win, is out with a knee injury.
Out: Mark Flekken (Knee), Ibrahim Maza (Knee), Eliesse Ben Seghir (Ankle), Nathan Tella (Foot).
Returning: Loïc Badé is expected to return to the heart of the defense after a suspension.
Player to Watch: Patrik Schick. The striker’s clinical finishing will be vital against a St. Pauli side that likely intends to sit deep.
St. Pauli Team News
The visitors are ravaged by injuries in the defensive department, which may force a makeshift backline.
Out: Hauke Wahl (Knee), Connor Metcalfe (Knee), Andreas Hountondji (Ankle), David Nemeth (Tendon), Adam Dzwigala (Illness).
Returning: Captain Jackson Irvine has recently returned from a foot injury and is expected to lead from the midfield.
Player to Watch: Martijn Kaars. He was instrumental in the win over Gladbach and remains their most potent transitional threat.
Predicted Starting Lineups
Bayer Leverkusen (3-4-2-1):
Blaswich; Quansah, Badé, Tapsoba; Arthur, Fernandez, Garcia, Grimaldo; Tillman, Terrier; Schick.
St. Pauli (3-4-2-1):
Vasilj; Ando, Smith, Mets; Saliakas, Irvine, Rasmussen, Pyrka; Sinani, Fujita; Jones.
Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats
Recent Dominance: Leverkusen is unbeaten against St. Pauli since their return to the top flight (2W, 1D).
Pokal Pedigree: Leverkusen has won their last five DFB-Pokal home matches.
The Struggle: St. Pauli has not kept a clean sheet in their last 11 competitive fixtures.
Reverse Fixture: Leverkusen won 2-1 at the Millerntor-Stadion in September 2025.
Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 St. Pauli
While St. Pauli has shown grit in the Pokal, the gulf in quality and Leverkusen’s current momentum at the BayArena should be too much for the visitors to handle. Leverkusen’s wing-back play through Grimaldo is likely to overwhelm St. Pauli’s depleted defense.
Top Betting Tips:
Match Result: Leverkusen to Win. They are the heavy favorites for a reason.
Total Goals: Over 2.5. St. Pauli’s defense is leaky, but they often find a consolation goal in cup ties.
To Score Anytime: Patrik Schick. He is Leverkusen's primary target in the box.
