In a crucial clash at the bottom of the German Bundesliga, St Pauli hosts Wolfsburg this Saturday at Millerntor-Stadion, with both teams aiming to rebound from challenging starts to the season.
Despite Wolfsburg’s prolific goal-scoring streak, their defense remains vulnerable, often undermining their efforts. St Pauli, meanwhile, has been desperate for a win and their first home goal this season. Having returned to the Bundesliga, St Pauli has struggled to settle, securing just one point from three home fixtures at Millerntor-Stadion and suffering a record five consecutive losses from their first seven league games, setting an unwanted milestone for the club.
In their recent 2-2 draw against Borussia Dortmund, St Pauli's Eric Smith leveled the score in the 78th minute, only for Dortmund to clinch a win in the closing moments. Currently, St Pauli sits precariously in 16th place, just three points clear of the relegation zone. Their season’s tally of four points has come from two matches, though back-to-back losses on either side of the season break have dented any positive momentum. Now returning to Hamburg, they face the daunting prospect of potentially going winless in nine consecutive home Bundesliga fixtures—a sequence dating back years but now threatening to set a new club record.
Under the guidance of Alexander Blessin, St Pauli has yet to find the net at Millerntor-Stadion this season, and they’ll look for inspiration from previous matchups against Wolfsburg. Historically, they’ve performed strongly, winning 13 of their last 14 encounters across competitions and remaining unbeaten in their past four Bundesliga meetings with Die Wolfe.
Wolfsburg, like their hosts, will have a busy week with an upcoming DFB-Pokal clash against Borussia Dortmund, while St Pauli faces RB Leipzig in their cup tie. Despite the tight schedule, Wolfsburg will focus on securing victory in Hamburg.
Their away performances have been disappointing, with three losses and a draw from their first four away games, during which they failed to hold a lead or keep a clean sheet. However, in February, they claimed a 3-0 win over Angers in the second division and have since won three of their last four visits to Stade Raymond Kopa.
Should St Pauli pull off a victory on Saturday, they could potentially close in on Ralph Hasenhüttl's Wolfsburg, who are currently languishing in 13th place. Defensive frailties have been a recurring issue for Die Wolfe, who have conceded 16 goals so far this season—a new low for Wolfsburg at this stage in the Bundesliga.
Yet, Wolfsburg has demonstrated resilience in attack, scoring in each of their last eight league matches, dating back to the previous season. Their 15 goals in the first seven games mark the club’s best scoring record since 2009, when they were the reigning Bundesliga champions. However, last week’s 4-2 defeat to Werder Bremen exposed their defensive lapses. Leading 1-0, they conceded three goals in a critical 20-minute stretch in the second half, which resulted in their third consecutive loss. Alarmingly, Wolfsburg has now surrendered a league-high 11 points from leading positions.
Discipline has also been a significant issue for Wolfsburg, who lead the league in yellow cards and red cards this season. Patrick Wimmer’s red card against Bremen contributed to their tally, and with two key players suspended this weekend, they face further challenges to stabilize their lineup against a St Pauli side eager to secure points.
In this high-stakes matchup, both teams seek not only a vital three points but also a morale boost to propel them away from the Bundesliga’s relegation zone.