Dortmund Faces St. Pauli Amid Injury Woes and Crucial Decisions

HAMBURG, Germany – Borussia Dortmund will travel to face FC St. Pauli on Saturday at 15:30 CET, with both teams navigating challenging seasons and crucial points on the line.

The impending match finds Dortmund (32 points) attempting to recover from a recent slump that saw them secure a 6-0 victory against Union Berlin, while still struggling to climb out of 10th place in the Bundesliga standings. They currently sit seven points behind the coveted Champions League qualifying position.

In contrast, FC St. Pauli, newly promoted to the Bundesliga, is in 15th, comfortably distanced from the relegation zone by six points with 21 points to their name. However, their home pitch at Millerntor has yielded only two wins out of eleven matches, highlighting potential vulnerabilities.

Both teams face notable challenges regarding player availability. Dortmund will be without the sidelined Julian Brandt due to a knee injury and the ill Marius Wolf. Meanwhile, they anticipate the return of Nico Schlotterbeck, who has recovered from muscle issues.

Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac is now tasked with deciding whether to field either Emre Can or Raphael Guerreiro in the central midfield, as both players bring different strengths to the team. During this critical juncture, every decision could prove pivotal in the race for points.

“The way we won against Union was crucial. We played dynamically, aggressively, and intensely. It reminded the players that we are capable when we perform as a unit,” Kovac stated.

On the other side, St. Pauli’s head coach, Alexander Blessin commented, “While Dortmund had a strong win recently, the outcome’s significance will be measured during the match. They’ve adapted their playstyle to focus on crossing and exploiting flanks, and we must remain vigilant.”

Statistically, Dortmund’s away form has been disappointing at best, taking just eight points from eleven matches (two wins, two draws, and seven losses). In stark contrast, St. Pauli has garnered 12 points in their home games and has fared better overall in the league.

The clubs’ historical clashes have heavily favored Dortmund, who have not lost to St. Pauli in the Bundesliga for the last eleven encounters, amassing ten wins and one draw. The last defeat occurred over 35 years ago, in November 1989.

TV coverage of the match will be provided by the pay-TV channel Sky, starting at 14:00 CET with Michael Leopold moderating and expert Dietmar Hamann contributing insights. Hansi Küpper will deliver the commentary, alongside Kai Dittmann for the broader conference.

With injuries and tactical adjustments on the horizon, both teams will be eager for the valuable points at stake in this Bundesliga clash.