Two teams enjoying an explosive start to the second half of the campaign will square off at Millerntor-Stadion, where St Pauli host Augsburg for round 20 of Bundesliga.
Both sides are just one place apart in the standings, though the home side are five points adrift of the visitors, who sit 12th with 25 points from 19 matches.
Match preview
© Imago
St Pauli head into the weekend in their best run of the season, having secured consecutive victories for the first time in 2024-25.
Following a poor end to the first half of the campaign, with four defeats in five, the Kiezkicker bounced back with an impressive 2-0 win away to Heidenheim and then handed Union Berlin a commanding 3-0 defeat, a result that saw Alexander Blessin's side rise two spots to 13th with 20 points.
St Pauli's resurgence has been marked by bright starts, defensive resilience and strong finishes, having taken the lead in the first 45 minutes of both encounters, keeping clean sheets and closing out those games with goals in the final minutes.
As a result, Freibeuter der Liga have secured back-to-back wins while keeping their opponents scoreless for the first time in their history, bringing their season total to seven shutouts — trailing only RB Leipzig (eight) and league leaders Bayern Munich (nine).
Looking to extend their perfect run in the second half of the season, St Pauli face a stern test against an in-form Augsburg, who have won their last three matches.
However, the hosts can draw confidence from their strong record at Millerntor in this fixture, winning two of the three previous meetings at the ground.
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Jess Thorup's side are also enjoying an excellent run, claiming impressive 2-0 triumphs on their trips to Union Berlin and Werder Bremen before edging Heidenheim 2-1 at home last weekend.
Prior to that, Augsburg went four matches without a win, losing the last three, but their resurgence has seen them claim three straight Bundesliga victories — their first such streak since recording four in a row between February and March 2024.
Having accumulated 25 points from 19 matches, Fuggerstädter are enjoying their best campaign at this stage since 2017-18, when they had 27.
Augsburg's upturn in form has also been driven by a drastic improvement in their away results, with their two most recent victories on the road being their only such successes this season after failing to win any of their first seven.
The visitors will look to build on this momentum as they seek their first-ever league double over St Pauli, having secured a 3-1 triumph in the reverse fixture in September.
Team News
%20celebrates%20scoring%20for%20Augsburg%20on%20January%2015,%202025.jpeg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Alexis Claude-Maurice (No. 20) celebrates scoring for Augsburg on January 15, 2025")
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The hosts welcome Adam Dzwigala and Eric Smith back from suspension, but Simon Zoller is ruled out with a muscle injury, while Connor Metcalfe is struggling with an adductor issue.
Karol Mets (patella) and Robert Wagner (thigh) remain sidelined, while backup goalkeepers Sascha Burchert and Soren Ahlers are also out with long-term knee injuries.
Morgan Guilavogui has scored three goals in the last two matches, including a brace last time out and the 26-year-old will aim to continue his fine form when he takes his place on the flank.
Although Cedric Zesiger returns from suspension, the visitors have several injury absentees, including Kristijan Jakic (muscle) and Henri Koudossou (hamstring), both expected to return in February, while Reece Oxford continues his recovery from illness.
Mads Valentin Pedersen (groin) and Yusuf Kabadayi (knee) have undergone surgeries and will also be sidelined for a while.
Alexis Claude-Maurice, the club's top scorer in the league with six goals, will be looking to end his two-game goal drought.
St Pauli possible starting lineup:
Vasilj; Nemeth, Smith, Wahl; Saliakas, Irvine, Boukhalfa, Treu; Guilavogui, Eggestein, Weißhaupt
Augsburg possible starting lineup:
Dahmen; Matsima, Gouweleeuw, Banks; Wolf, Onyeka, Rexhbecaj, Giannoulis; Claude-Maurice, Maier; Essende
We say: St Pauli 2-2 Augsburg
Both sides head into this clash on a high, with St Pauli finding their form at home and Augsburg winning their last two away games, making a closely contested stalemate likely as neither appears to have the edge over the other based on recent performances.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
