Union Berlin vs. St Pauli preview: Svensson takes charge of first home game

Union Berlin

Bo Svensson began his tenure as Union boss with a narrow 1-0 victory over fourth-tier Greifswalder FC in the DFB-Pokal. The Union head coach then oversaw a league opener against his former club Mainz. Svensson managed to take a point off his former employers, with Bénes László netting a 74th-minute equaliser to cancel out Nadiem Amiri’s opener.

Svensson will now turn his focus to his first home game in charge of die Eisernen. The contest represents Union’s first competitive meeting against St. Pauli since recording a Pokal victory in March 2022. The hosts can take confidence from the fact they have won seven of their previous eight home matches against St. Pauli, including each of their last four home encounters.

Team News

The hosts are unable to call upon the injured quartet of Josip Juranovic, Ivan Prtajin, Yannic Stein and Kevin Volland. However,  Kevin Vogt has shaken off a knock and will be available for selection.

St. Pauli

Like their hosts, St. Pauli have entered the 2024-25 season with a new manager following the departure of Fabian Hürzeler at the end of last term. Hürzeler guided St. Pauli to the 2.Bundesliga title before he accepted the chance to become Brighton & Hove Albion’s new head coach. Alexander Blessin was subsequently appointed as Hürzeler's successor, taking over the reins after leaving his position as Union Saint-Gilloise manager.

Blessin started his tenure with an extra-time win against Hallescher FC in the Pokal. Unfortunately for Blessin, life as a Bundesliga head coach began with a 2-0 home defeat against Heidenheim. Blessin will now be tasked with leading St. Pauli to their first competitive away win over Union since October 2011.

Team News

Blessin is without the services of goalkeeper Sascha Burchert and forward Simon Zoller due to adductor and thigh injuries respectively.