Borussia Dortmund will hope to make a late push for the Bundesliga's European spots when they visit Millerntor-Stadion on Saturday to take on St Pauli.
The home team are fourth last in 15th place with 21 points and lost 2-0 against Mainz 05 on February 22, while BVB trounced Union Berlin 6-0 on the same date and are in 10th place with 32 points.
Match preview
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St Pauli held out against Mainz until the 67th minute and did not face a single big chance until Jae-Sung Lee's opener.
Saturday's hosts created two big chances against Mainz, and their failure to convert their opportunities meant they were prevented from scoring for a third consecutive match.
Though Alexander Blessin's side are only one place above 16th-placed Heidenheim, who occupy the division's relegation playoff spot, they boast a six-point advantage on their relegation rivals.
Kiezkicker have been beaten in each of their last three games and are winless in four, though they did win their prior two.
Blessin's team have only emerged triumphant in two of their 11 home matches this term, losing six and drawing three in that time.
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BVB were rampant against Union, creating nine big chances, producing nearly five xG and registering 20 of their 24 shots from inside the penalty area.
The victory was boss Niko Kovac's first Bundesliga win in charge of the club, but they scored as many goals last Saturday as they had managed in their previous five outings.
Despite losing nine of their 23 league games in 2024-25, the Black and Yellows are only six points from fifth-placed Mainz, who occupy the league's Europa League qualification spot.
Dortmund emerged as 2-1 victors against St Pauli October 18, a fixture they dominated considering they generated seven big chances, but they only claimed all three points thanks to Serhou Guirassy's 83rm-minute winner.
BVB's win against Union was their first in three games having lost one and drawn one in that period, but they did win three of their previous four.
Kovac's side have won two of their three most recent matches away from home but have been defeated in four of their last six games on the road.
Team News
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St Pauli's injury list is extensive, with centre-backs Karol Mets and Manolis Saliakas, as well as goalkeeper Sascha Burchert, ruled out.
Expect Nikola Vasilj to start between the posts behind a back three of David Nemeth, Hauke Wahl and Siebe Van der Heyden.
Jackson Irvine and Eric Smith are likely to play in a double pivot given Robert Wagner will not be in the squad, and he will be joined on the sidelines by forwards James Sands, Morgan Guilavogui and Simon Zoller.
Considering the absences up front, attackers Elias Saad, Johannes Eggestein and Noah Weisshaupt could be trusted to start together.
Dortmund's list of absentees is considerably smaller given they will only be missing midfielder Felix Nmecha and attacker Julian Brandt.
Marcel Sabitzer and Pascal Gross featured in the middle of the pitch against Union, and they are likely to be paired together once again.
Striker Guirassy may be flanked by Karim Adeyemi and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, while Giovanni Reyna could be fielded in an attacking role behind the number nine.
St Pauli possible starting lineup:
Vasilj; Nemeth, Wahl, Van der Heyden; Treu, Irvine, Smith, Ritzka; Saad, Eggestein, Weisshaupt
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Ryerson, Can, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Sabitzer, Gross; Adeyemi, Reyna, Bynoe-Gittens; Guirassy
We say: St Pauli 0-2 Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund will be full of confidence following their impressive victory against Union, and they should be considered favourites.
Additionally, though St Pauli did create opportunities last time out, they have struggled to convert their chances in recent games, and they could find it difficult to get on the scoresheet on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
