St. Pauli vs Augsburg preview: In-form sides go head to head in Hamburg

St. Pauli

Saturday's hosts registered just their second home win of the campaign last time out as they welcomed Union Berlin to Hamburg in what has been dubbed by many as the ‘Hipster Derby’.

A double from Morgan Guilavogui and a late Danel Sinani effort saw Alexander Blessin's men secure a fantastic victory in a match featuring excellent performances across the forward line.

The link-up play between Jackson Irvine and Johannes Eggestein provided a constant threat against one of the league's best defences, whilst securing Noah Weißhaupt on loan from Freiburg is beginning to look like a fantastic bit of January business for the club.

The hosts look to draw momentum from last weekend, as they face another in-form side in Augsburg. However, the performance last time out shows signs that maybe the goals are there for Pauli, after struggling to find the back of the net throughout the first half of the campaign. 

However, despite this, the defence in Blessin's side has been excellent. The club have kept a clean sheet on seven occasions this campaign, with only RB Leipzig (8) and Bayern München (9) registering more. 

Team News

St. Pauli welcome Adam Dzwigala and Eric Smith back to the fold, with Smith returning after suspension. However, Simon Zoller is ruled out due to a muscle injury, whilst Connor Metcalfe continues to struggle with an adductor issue. 

Robert Wagner and Karol Mets remain sidelined, alongside backup goalkeepers Sascha Burchert and Soren Ahlers who are both out with long-term knee injuries.

Augsburg

Alongside this weekend's hosts, Augsburg are also enjoying an excellent run of form, with Jess Thorup's side securing three wins in a row after a poor enduring a tough run to 2024, followed by a loss to VfB Stuttgart to begin the year. 

However, since the loss against Stuttgart, Die Fuggerstädter have claimed impressive wins against Union Berlin, Werder Bremen and Heidenheim in their last three. These three results leave the club with 25 points, being the best tally FCA have reached since 2017/18 when they had 27 after 19 matches. 

The recent upturn in form has been aided massively by a drastic change in fortunes away from home. With the victories in Berlin and Bremen respectively were the club's first away wins of the campaign after failing to win any of their first seven.

As with St. Pauli, they look to build on the momentum gained in recent weeks, and secure a first-ever league double over St. Pauli along the way. Augsburg overcame St. Pauli by three goals to one when the sides met at WWKArena back in September.

Team News

The visitors enter matchweek 20 with several absentees, including Henri Koudossou and Kristijan Jakic who are expected to return in February. They are sidelined alongside Mads Valentin Pedersen and Yusuf Kabadayi, with both undergoing surgery, and remaining out for a while.

Alongside this, Reece Oxford continues to recover from illness.