Hamburg vs St. Pauli Preview: Team News & Prediction
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A long-awaited and highly-anticipated inter-city derby sees bitter rivals Hamburg and St. Pauli meet for the first time in the Bundesliga since 2011.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – BBC / US – ESPN
How to watch online: UK – BBC Sport website & BBC iPlayer / US – ESPN+
Hamburg preview: Solid start
It’s always going to be a big challenge for any newly promoted side coming into the Bundesliga but Hamburg can be more than satisfied with the start they’ve made. A battling performance away at Borussia Monchengladbach saw them earn a hard-fought point as the two sides played out a goalless draw. Hamburg had to soak up plenty of pressure across the 90 minutes but Merlin Polzin’s side held out in an excellent defensive showing.
Scoring goals for this team does look like it could be a challenge at present and it would be no surprise to see them conduct further business between now and the end of the transfer window. Keeping their composure will be most important in a charged fixture such as this with emotions bound to be high on and off the pitch.
St. Pauli preview: Thrilling fightback
It was looking like St. Pauli were set to begin the new season with defeat at home to Borussia Dortmund after going 1-3 down with around 15 minutes of normal time to play. However, a Dortmund red card sparked a dramatic late comeback inside the final five minutes, with Daniel Sinani converting from the spot, before Eric Smith popped up just three minutes later to equalise and salvage an incredible draw.
Such a result will have left the St. Pauli players and supporters on cloud nine and feeling in a position where they can kick on. Another high-profile contest is on the horizon here but this time Alexander Blessin’s men are in enemy territory and like their opponents, must keep their heads under the most intense of pressure.
Hamburg team news: Meffert and Dompe in
In order to increase their cutting edge going forward, Hamburg could look to start Jean-Luc Dompe after he came off the bench last weekend, replacing Alexander Rossing-Lelesiit. Jonas Meffert could also start in midfield. Forward Robert Glatzel is doubtful.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Heuer Fernandes; Omari, Elfadli, Torunarigha; Gocholeishvili, Meffert, Capaldo, Muheim; Dompe, Konigsdorffer, Sahiti
Unavailable: Hermann (Injured), Jatta (Injured), Pherai (Injured)
Questionable: Glatzel (Injured)
St. Pauli team news: Five out for visitors
St. Pauli are without up to five players for the short trip to the Volksparkstadion. Karol Mets and David Nemeth are among those confirmed to be missing as is midfielder Jackson Irvine and striker Abdoulie Ceesay.
Predicted XI (3-4-1-2): Vasilj; Wahl, Smith, Dzwigała; Saliakis, Sands, Metcalfe, Oppie; Sinani; Hountondji, Pereira Lage
Unavailable: Ceesay (Injured), Irvine (Injured), Jones (Injured), Mets (Injured), Nemeth (Injured)
Questionable:
Hamburg vs St. Pauli prediction
This will be the 112th time in all competitions that Hamburg and St. Pauli clash and the 17th time in the Bundesliga. Hamburg have historically been far more successful but this stands for very little right now, with both clubs on even footing back in the top flight of German football. Fans will demand every last drop of energy and fight from their respective players, but both coaches are likely to plead caution. The consequences of losing a local derby are grave and avoiding defeat will be the first priority.
With that in mind, we could be in for a tense affair despite all the attention and noise that surrounds such a fixture. Neither will want to make that big error that opens things up for the opposition and it would be no surprise to see the two sides cancel each other. Assuming St. Pauli deploy a defensive style of play initially, Hamburg may well struggle to break them down, so backing under 2.5 goals has to be favoured.
Hamburg vs St. Pauli tip: Under 2.5 goals
