This Saturday, newly-promoted St Pauli are set to take on Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich in a match that is undoubtedly their toughest test of the season. St Pauli have managed just one win in their last five outings, while Bayern come into this clash after a dominant performance against Union Berlin and a narrow Champions League victory.
With league leaders Bayern visiting, St Pauli will need to produce their best performance yet to stand any chance of keeping up.
St Pauli's Recent Form
St Pauli finally secured a much-needed win in their last league game, beating Hoffenheim 2-0. That victory was a relief after a challenging five-match spell, during which they managed only one other win.
Despite their recent struggles, St Pauli have shown some defensive resilience, keeping two clean sheets in consecutive games. However, they remain without a home win this season, with two draws and two losses at Millerntor-Stadion.
Injury and Team News
St Pauli are facing a string of injuries, with goalkeepers Ben Alexander Voll, Soren Ahlers, and Sascha Burchert all unavailable, leaving Nikola Vasilj as their starter.
They’ll also be without Philipp Treu, while attackers Conor Metcalfe, Elias Saad, Scott Banks, and Simon Zoller are ruled out.
Coach Alexander Blessin will likely call upon forwards Oladapo Afolayan, Johannes Eggestein, and Morgan Guilavogui to lead the line.
Last St Pauli Lineup
Here is how St Pauli lined up for their last match:
Bayern Munich's Recent Form
Bayern Munich have been in blistering form, both domestically and in Europe. They are on a four-match winning streak, having scored 13 goals while keeping four clean sheets.
Bayern’s 3-0 win over Union Berlin last weekend underscored their dominance, and a 1-0 Champions League victory against Benfica midweek helped further boost team morale.
Bayern remain undefeated away from home in the Bundesliga this season, making them heavy favourites in this fixture.
Injury and Team News
While Bayern have fewer injury issues than their opponents, they will still miss midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic, right-back Sacha Boey, and goalkeeper Sven Ulreich.
Defenders Hiroki Ito and Josip Stanisic are also sidelined, with a backline likely featuring Raphael Guerreiro, Dayot Upamecano, Kim Min-jae, and Alphonso Davies.
Harry Kane is expected to start up front, supported by Jamal Musiala and Kingsley Coman.
Last Bayern Munich Lineup
Here is how Bayern Munich lined up for their last Bundesliga match:
St Pauli Player to Watch
Oladapo Afolayan has been a spark for St Pauli’s attack this season. His pace and positioning will be crucial if St Pauli hope to exploit any gaps in Bayern’s defence. Afolayan will need to be clinical to give his side a fighting chance against Bayern’s relentless backline.
Bayern Munich Player to Watch
Harry Kane remains the danger man for Bayern. With a record of consistently scoring both at home and away, Kane’s goal-scoring ability is critical. His link-up play with Jamal Musiala and Kingsley Coman could be decisive against St Pauli’s defence.
Prediction
While St Pauli will draw confidence from their recent clean sheets, Bayern’s attacking power and recent form make them clear favourites.
Our Prediction: St Pauli 0-4 Bayern Munich
Betting Tips
Tip 1
Bayern to Win and Over 2.5 Goals: Bayern’s goal-scoring form suggests they should comfortably reach at least three goals.
Tip 2
Harry Kane to Score Anytime: Kane’s sharp finishing and positioning in the box make him a prime candidate to get on the scoresheet.
Tip 3
Both Teams NOT to Score: Given Bayern’s recent defensive solidity and St Pauli’s injury concerns, a clean sheet for Bayern seems likely.
