St. Pauli vs. RB Leipzig preview: Hosts looking to get off the mark
| Photo: FC St. Pauli |
St. Pauli
St. Pauli have experienced a difficult start to their first top-flight season since 2010-11. They kicked off their campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Heidenheim, before they fell to a narrow away loss against Union Berlin. They experienced another disappointing outing in last Sunday’s home meeting against Augsburg. Carlo Boukhalfa’s 74th-minute effort ultimately counted for very little as St. Pauli slumped to a 3-1 defeat.
As a result of their poor start to the season, St. Pauli are now winless in 15 Bundesliga matches. They are also one of three teams yet to pick up a point in the top flight this term. Having struggled in the early stages of the campaign, the newly-promoted side will be desperate to get off the mark in their first meeting with Leipzig since February 2016. The hosts may be able to take confidence from the fact they have won their three head-to-head meetings.
Team News
The hosts are expected to be without Sören Ahlers, Sascha Burchert, Simon Zoller and Connor Metcalfe. There are also doubts over the availability of Morgan Guilavogui, Maurides and Robert Wagner.
RB Leipzig
Leipzig are set to return to domestic action after suffering late heartbreak in Thursday’s trip to the Spanish capital. Benjamin Šeško netted a fourth-minute opener to get Leipzig off to the perfect start in their Champions League clash with Atlético Madrid. However, Antoine Griezmann pulled Atleti level, before José María Giménez netted a 90th-minute winner to send Leipzig back to Germany with nothing to show for their efforts.
Marco Rose’s side will have to quickly pick themselves up as they look to extend their 14-game unbeaten league run. Leipzig have taken seven points from their first three matches of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season. They claimed back-to-back victories over Bochum and Bayer Leverkusen, before they played out a goalless home draw with Union.
Leipzig will be hoping to continue their promising start to the Bundesliga season by claiming their first competitive victory over St. Pauli since November 2014.
Team News
The visitors are unable to call upon the injured trio of Kevin Kampl, Assan Ouédraogo and Xaver Schlager.