Leverkusen Vs St.Pauli

Bayer Leverkusen will aim to rejuvenate their title defence as they face struggling St Pauli on Saturday in their 13th Bundesliga match of the 2024-25 season at the BayArena. The reigning champions, led by Xabi Alonso, are currently sitting in third place with 23 points, following a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Union Berlin on November 30. Their opponents, St Pauli, are having a difficult season, positioned just above the relegation zone in 15th place with 11 points. Despite their struggles, they were able to secure a 3-1 win over Holstein Kiel last Friday, offering a glimmer of hope that they can continue their fight for survival.

Leverkusen’s recent form has been strong, and they will look to build on this momentum as they continue their pursuit of another Bundesliga title. In their last encounter, a dramatic clash with Union Berlin, both teams displayed plenty of attacking intent, with each side registering eight shots and two big chances. The match was a closely contested affair, and while Union Berlin held their ground, it was Bayer Leverkusen’s persistence that ultimately won them the three points. In the 71st minute, they found a late goal to secure a 2-1 win, continuing their bid to defend their title. This victory was crucial, as it allowed them to close the gap slightly on league leaders Bayern Munich, who had drawn 1-1 with Borussia Dortmund on the same day. However, Bayer Leverkusen still remain seven points adrift of Bayern, who are comfortably atop the standings, with Vincent Kompany’s side showing little sign of slowing down.

Xabi Alonso’s side have been in excellent form throughout the season, and their consistency has been one of the defining features of their play. After their victory over Union Berlin, they continued to show their strength by advancing to the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich on Tuesday. This match was particularly notable for the red card shown to Bayern’s goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in the 17th minute, which left the Bavarians playing with one man less for much of the game. Despite the man advantage, Leverkusen showed their resilience and quality, ensuring a narrow but important win to progress further in the cup competition.

Offensively, Leverkusen have been a force to be reckoned with, scoring 28 goals in the Bundesliga so far this season, the third-best attacking record in the league. However, their defense has been a bit more vulnerable, conceding 19 goals, which places them joint ninth in terms of defensive solidity. Nevertheless, their ability to outscore their opponents has allowed them to remain firmly in the hunt for the title. Over the past few weeks, Leverkusen have been in blistering form, winning their last four league matches by an impressive 13-3 scoreline. This dominant run has further highlighted their attacking prowess, and they have now only suffered one loss in their past 17 Bundesliga outings, drawing six of those matches.

Leverkusen’s home form has been equally impressive, as they are unbeaten in their last eight matches at the BayArena. During this run, they have secured six victories and two draws, which has contributed to their remarkable record of 28 wins, six draws, and just one loss in their last 35 home games. This kind of form at home makes Leverkusen one of the most formidable sides in the league, and they will be keen to continue this impressive streak when they face St Pauli this weekend.

In contrast, St Pauli have been struggling to find consistency this season. Despite their recent 3-1 victory over Holstein Kiel, their overall form has been disappointing, as they sit just one point above the relegation playoff zone. Manager Alexander Blessin’s side have struggled to find the back of the net consistently, but their win against Holstein Kiel was a much-needed boost, especially given the tough run of results they had been facing. The match against Kiel saw St Pauli create four big chances, matching Kiel’s own tally. However, St Pauli were perhaps fortunate that goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj saved a penalty from Jann-Fiete Arp at the end of the first half, with the score still 1-0. St Pauli also hit the woodwork in the match, which seemed to reflect their precarious situation, where luck and skill had to work together to secure the win.

That victory against Holstein Kiel also marked an important milestone for St Pauli, as it was their first Bundesliga goal scored at home in 13 years. This long-awaited breakthrough allowed Blessin to express some relief, with the manager acknowledging that the team had earned some good fortune during their recent struggles. He stated, "The momentum was fully on our side when the ball bounced off the inside of the post for the opening goal and went in. We’ve earned ourselves that luck in recent weeks," reflecting on the rollercoaster ride his team has experienced in the Bundesliga.

Despite this moment of positivity, St Pauli remain in a precarious position. They are currently in 15th place, just one point above Heidenheim, who occupy the relegation playoff spot. The team is also six points clear of the automatic relegation zone, but with many games still to play, the threat of relegation looms large. St Pauli have shown some signs of improvement recently, winning two of their last four Bundesliga matches, but their overall form has been inconsistent. In the past four matches, they have scored five goals, which is double the number of goals they had scored in their previous eight league games. However, the team's defense has been shaky, and they have conceded a total of 11 goals in their last four matches. This lack of defensive stability has been a major concern for Blessin and his coaching staff, who will need to address these issues if they are to avoid the drop.

On the road, St Pauli’s form has also been poor, with the team losing four of their last six away matches. However, they have shown some resilience by winning two of their last four away games, which will give them some hope as they travel to face one of the league’s top sides in Bayer Leverkusen. The Kiezkicker will need to put in a disciplined and determined performance if they are to leave BayArena with anything to show for their efforts. Given Leverkusen’s impressive form, St Pauli’s task will be a difficult one, but they will be hoping to continue the progress they made in their win against Kiel.

Looking ahead to this weekend’s match, Bayer Leverkusen will be the overwhelming favorites, given their recent form, quality, and home advantage. They will be looking to further close the gap on Bayern Munich, while St Pauli will be fighting to build on their recent victory and improve their standing in the league. While Leverkusen’s attacking power and home form make them a formidable opponent, St Pauli will be hoping to pull off an upset and continue their battle for Bundesliga survival. This match promises to be an intriguing contest, with both sides having plenty to play for, and it will be interesting to see if the champions can continue their strong run or if St Pauli can pull off a shock result in what is sure to be a challenging encounter for them.