AUDIO: St. Pauli coach Blessin: “It’s going in the right direction!” (4 mins)
As of: October 30, 2025 9:28 p.m
After the dramatic cup win against Hoffenheim, the mood at FC St. Pauli has clearly turned positive. In order for it to stay that way, Hamburg must also score points against Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga – ideally three times.
The adrenaline level at FC St. Pauli is probably back to zero by now, even if the victory in the DFB Cup against TSG Hoffenheim on Tuesday was more than a “normal” victory due to the dramatic circumstances.
The mood at Millerntor has improved significantly. Whether there will be a brief flare-up or the trend reversal will actually be achieved will be decided in the Bundesliga game against bottom of the table Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday (3.30 p.m., in the NDR Livecenter).
With another win against the “Fohlen”, who have not won in the league since March 29th, not only would the negative series of five league defeats in a row be ended, St. Pauli would also clearly distance themselves from Borussia and would then be seven points ahead.
Blessin and Smith see St. Pauli on the right track
Tuesday’s emotional boost is intended to give the team security and buoyancy. Such victories could be a “can opener to be able to breathe a little more freely again and see: Okay, we’re back on the right track now,” said coach Alexander Blessin after the Hoffenheim game and added on Thursday: “We saw a lot of laughter in training. The mood was good. After such a long period of suffering, it’s just good, and we have to start from there.”
“It’s going in the right direction.”
Alexander Blessin
In an interview with NDR, Blessin said: “We still have a few nuances where we can do better. But all in all, it’s exactly how we want to approach the next few weeks. The boys have always done well in the last few weeks and have been self-critical. That’s why I’m not afraid or anxious before the game against Gladbach. We can deliver the same performance again – and then we’ll win the game.”
Defense chief Eric Smith is also convinced: “We are finally back on the right track.” Given the mood within the team, he is certainly right. But does this also apply to all football components?
If analyzed closely, the encounter against Hoffenheim gives reasons for both optimism and skepticism. St. Pauli was again more present, better organized and also significantly more determined to move forward than in previous games.
Increase efficiency, prevent easy goals
However, the team has still not been able to overcome two weaknesses: On the one hand, good attacks far too rarely result in a dangerous shot on goal, let alone a goal. Andreas Hountondji’s 2-0 win against HSV on the second matchday is the last goal that St. Pauli has scored from the game so far. After that, Hamburg only scored from set pieces.
On the other hand, the Blessin team is surprisingly weak in defensive header duels. According to data provider GSN, the Hanseatic League only win 31 percent of these duels, making them one of the worst teams in the Bundesliga in this category.
An example of this was Hoffenheim’s 1-1 draw on Tuesday, when Grischa Prömel was able to head in fairly unchallenged – which wasn’t the first time this season for the brown and white team.
Cup hero Voll back on the bench
Avoiding these easy goals and increasing efficiency on offense: These are the core tasks for St. Pauli in the coming games in order to be successful again in the Bundesliga.
Keeper Ben Voll, who made two saves in the penalty shootout against Hoffenheim to become the match winner, will hand over his place in goal to Nikola Vasilj as agreed. Otherwise, it will be interesting to see whether Blessin will again give preference to Oladapo Afolayan and Connor Metcalfe in attack, or whether Danel Sinani and Mathias Pereira Lage will return to the starting line-up.
Possible lineups:
FC St. Pauli: Vasilj – Wahl, Smith, Mets – Saliakas, Sands, Fujita, Oppie – Pereira Lage, Hountondji, Afolayan
Borussia Mönchengladbach: Nicolas – Sander, Elvedi, Diks – Honorat, Reitz, Engelhardt, Netz – Machino, Stöger – Tabakovic