Borussia Dortmund also won their fourth home game of the season. Against a spirited St. Pauli side, Guirassy found the perfect answer to a dream goal from Smith.

After their 2-1 defeat at Union Berlin, Borussia Dortmund's goal was clear: to beat the newly-promoted Hamburg side despite being short of players. Nuri Sahin made three changes to his starting line-up, with Bensebaini, Sabitzer and Malen replacing Yan Couto, Gittens and Beier.

Bensebaini's introduction in particular paid dividends in a dominant first half for the Black and Yellows. After Guirassy had spurned the first good chance of the game, the left-back made a desperate save from Afolayan. He then put the favourites ahead with a header just before the half-time whistle, before Brandt spurned a golden opportunity to double his tally.

The half-time scoreline was not undeserved, given the level of the game, but it was a disappointing result for Alexander Blessin's St. Pauli. After all, the Hamburg side were celebrating on the half-hour mark - only to be denied by the VAR. Guilavogui, who started in place of the injured Saad in the 3-0 defeat at Mainz, took his kick a touch too early. As a result, the Kiezkickers had to fight back in the second half.

The second half in Dortmund started with a slight delay. Technology had outwitted referee Matthias Jöllenbeck, who ordered a brief interruption just seconds after the restart due to pyrotechnics in the away end. But then it was business as usual for the first 45 minutes. Dortmund controlled, dominated and patiently waited for their chance to break the deadlock, which came in the 64th minute when Guirassy and Malen combined to shoot wide.

The Hanseatic side, no less patient in their defence, stayed in the game and waited for their moment - which came in the form of a dream goal. Smith's irresistible volley from the outside of his foot spectacularly opened up a frenetic final quarter of an hour, and this time it was to last, even though Afolayan was offside. But Hamburg's joy was short-lived. Just five minutes later, Guirassy latched on to Gittens' cross to regain the lead (83'), before Brandt missed the chance to double the lead for the second time on the night.

The lead remained narrow until stoppage time, when St Pauli almost pulled a second goal back. Substitute Dzwigala, who had been dispossessed by Gittens before the 1:2, fired a drop-kick over Kobel from six metres out. It was a narrow but not undeserved 2-1 victory for Dortmund, who also won their fourth home game of the season.

It was a successful dress rehearsal for Dortmund's big show. On Tuesday (09:00p.m.), BVB will take on Real Madrid in the Champions League. In the league, they host Augsburg on Saturday (03:30p.m.). At the same time, St. Pauli host Wolfsburg.