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St. Pauli has slipped below the bottom again in the Bundesliga table. The recent performances give little hope for rescue.
When FC St. Pauli celebrated its last win in the Bundesliga, the temperatures had just climbed into double digits for the first time this year. It was at the end of February when the “Kiezkicker” took a surprising 1-0 win against TSG Hoffenheim with them to Hamburg. It was even the second win in a row, after the 2-1 at home against SV Werder Bremen.
In the weeks that followed, not only did frosty temperatures return, but they also nipped the delicate plant of “offensive” in the bud again for the “Kiezkickern”. Three points from eight games speak for themselves. With the exception of the 0:5 loss against FC Bayern Munich, the St. Paulians can at least take some positive things from the close results, but it has been shown again and again, especially recently, that they cannot find a way to pose a goal threat.
“You could see why they have the worst offense in the league,” says podcast host Anne Hilt in the current episode of the “Bundesliga Update”. With the goal to make it 1-2 against Mainz, St. Pauli has 27 goals in 32 games. Last season there was even one goal less at the same time. At that time, however, the strong defense helped them stay in the league. This now stands at 55 goals conceded, 18 more compared to the previous season.
St. Pauli starts boldly and is punished
Despite this record, Alexander Blessin’s team had something planned against 1. FSV Mainz 05. “They tried to play bravely at the beginning”says Anne Hilt. “Yes, in the first six minutes”interjects Sportschau reporter Luise Kropff, who was a guest in this episode of the “Bundesliga Update”.
So exactly until Mainz’s first goal, which was made possible by a mistake in St. Pauli’s build-up game. Even at 0-2, from St. Pauli’s point of view, there was a lack of orientation in defense. Accompanied by whistles from the people in the stands at the Millerntor, the break began.
A question of Self-confidence?
However, Anne Hilt finds the missed opportunities – for example those from Abdoulie Ceesay – even before the goal is symbolic of the current situation: “As if he had forgotten how football works.” The striker was free in front of the Mainz keeper Daniel Batz, but did not finish himself, instead deciding to pass the ball to Martijn Kaars. The wrong decision!
“I had the feeling that for long stretches the players didn’t know what it was really about,” adds Luise Kropff. What seems to be inspiring Heidenheim and Wolfsburg at the moment (3:3 against Bayern and 1:1 against Freiburg, respectively) is apparently leading to paralyzing heaviness at St. Pauli: the chance to avert relegation on their own.
Is there still hope of staying in the league?
Anne Hilt and Luise Kropff agree that the current performances of the “Kiezkicker” will not be enough to stay in the league. Maybe not even for relegation. In the spring rain in Hamburg, St. Pauli arrived at reality: a direct relegation zone two match days before the end of the season.
On the last match day there could be a showdown at Millerntor – in a direct duel with VfL Wolfsburg. Before that, St. Pauli has to hope that Wolfsburg doesn’t pull off a surprise against Bayern and that Hamburg doesn’t lose against Leipzig. It is also clear that if the performance improves again, the fans in the stadium would also recognize that, even if in the end it is not enough to stay in the league.
Wolfsburg’s form curve has been pointing upwards for a few weeks now. Above all, the results are correct again. The “Wolves” had to wait until matchday 30 for their first win of the second half of the season. Since then, two points have been added in two games. With the 1-1 draw against SC Freiburg, we moved up to the relegation place and, at least mathematically, there is still a chance of direct rescue. These and all other games of the football weekend are the topic of the “Bundesliga Update”
The Bundesliga update – every Thursday and Monday
The Bundesliga update is available on ARD Sounds, everywhere there are podcasts and on the Sportschau football channel on YouTube. New episodes appear on Thursday afternoons and Monday mornings.
