Despite the great superiority, St. Pauli once again failed to win in the second division. On Sunday (27.08.2023) there was the third goalless draw in a row against 1. FC Magdeburg.
At the beginning of the season, Schalke 04 and Hertha BSC ended up at the top of the list of promotion candidates in the second division. But there was also agreement that FC St. Pauli and 1. FC Magdeburg could do a lot this season – and both confirmed that in the first few weeks. Both teams went unbeaten in the top duel of the fourth match day at the Millerntor.
Dominant FC St. Pauli in the first half
Magdeburg initially dominated the game with possession, but St. Pauli had the first chances. First FCM keeper Dominik Reimann had to fend off a shot by Elias Saad (7th), then he parried the attempt by Andreas Albers after a corner (9th).
From about 20 minutes, the hosts were not only the more dangerous team, but also the game-determining ones. St. Pauli didn’t let Magdeburg develop at all, especially the defensive of coach Fabian Hürzeler was completely convincing.
But Riemann also prevented the Hamburg team from taking the lead after Lars Ritzka’s shot (27′). Later Cristiano Piccini saved after a cross from Saad and Albers (36′). With 10:0 shots, it finally went into the half-time break, but a goal did not succeed.
After St. Paulis, Vasily has to save jams
In the second round, the pressure was even greater. Jackson Irvine just missed the next opportunity to take the lead with a header (55th) and the many corners (8:0 after an hour) didn’t bring the desired success for the hosts. There was always a little lack of precision in the end, the attempts either came too centrally – as with Alber’s volley from six meters into Reimann’s arms (66th) – or went wide of the goal.
In the first home game of the season against Fortuna Düsseldorf, the Hürzeler team missed a number of great chances and did not get more than 0-0 – and there was also a goalless draw away in Fürth. This scenario now also threatened against Magdeburg. But St. Pauli even needed luck for that. Luc Castaignos suddenly had a great chance, but shot too centrally, and Luca Schuler’s follow-up shot then went wide of the target (66′).
Overall, however, the picture remained the same. St. Pauli stormed and had chances again and again, but Reimann attracted these shots almost magically, and the goalkeeper didn’t have to show any saves. It was different with his opponent Nikola Vasilj, who reacted strongly after a header from Daniel Elfadli (87th) and St. Pauli still saved the point. But in the end, the frustration of having failed primarily in front of the opposing goal prevailed.
St. Pauli against Braunschweig, Magdeburg welcomes Hertha BSC
FC St. Pauli meets Eintracht Braunschweig on Matchday 5 (Friday, September 1st, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.). For 1. FC Magdeburg it is a day later at home against Hertha BSC (1 p.m.).