Sunday’s Bundesliga action sees 13th place take on 14th place, as Union Berlin pay a visit to FC St Pauli.
Like any newly promoted side, St Pauli have been trying to keep things tight in recent games, keeping four of their last five games to a one goal margin, winning two of them, and showing with their 1-0 win over Champions League side Stuttgart that brains over brawn can be effective.
For Union Berlin, their win over Mainz last time out was respite, after they had failed to win any of their last eight games. Sitting thirteenth, they are a long way behind where they would like to be, but will be presented with a chance to improve their position when they face St Pauli.
As the game approaches, here is everything you need to know about both sides ahead of kick-off.
FC St Pauli Predicted Lineup (3-4-3): Nikola Vasij (GK); Fin Stevens, David Nemeth, Hauke Wahl; Philipp Treu, James Sands, Jackson Irvine, Manolas Saliakas; Noah Weisshaupt, Johannes Eggestein, Morgan Guilavogui.
So far this campaign, St Pauli have surpassed the expectations of many coming into their first Bundesliga season 2010/11. Winning five games so far, and sitting three points above the relegation play-off spot, the mood is positive around the team.
The main concern is injuries. With 10 players out, and with a bare bones team, they lack both first team quality and acceptable squad depth. If the injury crisis goes on for much longer, they will lose more men and may even have to start calling up youth prospects.
However, they are able to field a moderately strong team for this one, and given Union Berlin’s recent poor form, have more than a half chance of coming away with another crucial result.
Union Berlin Predicted Lineup (3-4-2-1): Alexander Schwolow (GK); Diogo Leite, Leopold Querfeld, Danilo Doekhi; Robert Skov, Alijoscha Kemlein, Janik Haberer, Josip Juranovic; Benedict Hollerbach, Andras Schafer; Jordan Pefok.
Despite the tight fought 2-1 win over Mainz last time out, Berlin will want to be doing more at this stage of the season. In the middle of a Champions League race two seasons ago, they are a far cry from that sort of form in 2024/25.
They have scored the second fewest goals (15) of any Bundesliga team behind St Pauli, and their opponents have the excuse of being a newly promoted team.
Their lack of clean sheets says everything you need to know about their defence. Whenever they concede, morale plummets, and they suddenly become a much easier team to beat. They need to avoid conceding first on Sunday, then they might stand a chance of stringing back to back wins together.
Recent Meetings:
While St Pauli’s recent form has to be respected, particularly their win over Stuttgart, a standout stat is that they have failed to score in four of their last five home games, seemingly more at ease at away grounds. Taking this into account, we reckon Union Berlin will snatch a narrow win here.
FC St Pauli 0-1 Union Berlin
Unfortunately for the neutral fans, this one isn’t going to be a goal fest. However, the result will push Union Berlin away from the perilous relegation battle, and consolidate their status as a mid-table side.
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