Bundesliga | Gameweek 24

Mar 1, 2025 at 2.30pm UK

Millerntor-Stadion

St Pauli vs Dortmund

Match preview

St Pauli held out against Mainz until the 67th minute and did not create a single good chance until Jae-Sung Lee's opener.

Saturday's hosts created two great chances against Mainz, but their failure to convert meant they failed to score for the third game in a row.

Although Alexander Blessin's side are only one place above 16th-placed Heidenheim, who occupy the relegation play-off spot, they are six points clear of their relegation rivals.

The Kiezkicker have lost each of their last three games and are winless in four, having won the previous two.

Blessin's men have won just two of their 11 home games this term, losing six and drawing three.

BVB were on fire against Union, creating nine good chances, producing almost five xG and hitting 20 of their 24 shots from inside the box.

It was Niko Kovac's first Bundesliga win in charge of the club, but they scored as many goals on Saturday as they had in their previous five matches.

Despite losing nine of their 23 league games in 2024/25, the Black and Yellows are just six points behind fifth-placed Mainz, who occupy the league's Europa League qualifying spot.

Dortmund won 2-1 at St. Pauli on 18 October, a game they dominated as they created seven good chances, but only took all three points thanks to Serhou Guirassy's 83rd-minute winner.

BVB's win over Union was their first in three games, having lost one and drawn one in that time, but they had won three of their previous four.

Kovac's side have won two of their last three away games, but have lost four of their last six away from home.

Recent Performance

St Pauli Bundesliga form:WWDLLL

Borussia Dortmund Bundesliga form:LDWLLW

Borussia Dortmund form (all competitions):WLWLDW

Team News

St Pauli's injury list is extensive, with centre-backs Karol Mets and Manolis Saliakas and goalkeeper Sascha Burchert all out.

Nikola Vasilj is expected 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 with Robert Wagner out of the squad, while forwards James Sands, Morgan Guilavogui and Simon Zoller will be on the sidelines.

Given the absentees up front, strikers Elias Saad, Johannes Eggestein and Noah Weisshaupt could start together.

Dortmund's list of absentees is much shorter, with only midfielder Felix Nmecha and Julian Brandt missing.

Marcel Sabitzer and Pascal Gross played in the centre of the park against Union and are likely to be paired up again.

Striker Guirassy could be flanked by Karim Adeyemi and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, while Giovanni Reyna could play in an attacking role behind the number nine.

Possible starting lineup

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