German Bundesliga - Borussia Dortmund VS St. Pauli Prediction
German Bundesliga - Borussia Dortmund VS St. Pauli
Match Time: 19-10-2024 02:30 Saturday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
--------------------------------------------------------------
Borussia Dortmund
Nuri Sahin has several roster issues hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixtures. Against FC St. Pauli on Friday, the Borussia Dortmund manager might be bereft of the services of as many as seven first-team players.
Yan Couto is the latest absentee after he picked up a muscle injury. The Brazilian international has joined Karim Adeyemi (hamstring), Julien Duranville (thigh), and Giovanni Reyna (groin) on the sidelines. In addition, Niklas Sule, Julian Ryerson, and Maximilian Beier are recovering from illness.
Gregor Kobel is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Borussia Dortmund lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against FC St. Pauli. The backline should feature Julian Ryerson, Nico Schlotterbeck, Waldemar Anton, and Ramy Bensebaini, with Sahin likely taking a chance with Ryerson in Couto’s absence.
As for the midfield unit, Marcel Sabitzer and Pascal Gross should pair up in the double pivot, with Emre Can remaining on the bench. Julian Brandt will reprise the no. 10 role, with Donyell Malen and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens being the two wide attackers. Finally, Serhou Guirassy will lead the line for the home side against FC St. Pauli.
St. Pauli
Like his counterpart in the Borussia Dortmund dugout, Alexander Blessin has a few pressing issues to deal with ahead of the trip to Signal Iduna Park. The FC St. Pauli manager will be without at least five first-team players.
Soren Ahlers (knee), Sascha Burchert (muscular), Ben Voll (jaw), Elias Saad (ankle), and Simon Zoller (thigh) remain on the sidelines. In addition, Blessin is sweating over the fitness of Carlo Boukhalfa (thigh), who might not be fit enough to take on Borussia Dortmund on Friday.
Nikola Vasilj is the only recognised goalkeeper fit and will take his spot between the sticks, with St. Pauli lining up in a 3-4-3 formation in front of him against Borussia Dortmund on Friday. The central defensive unit should feature Hauke Wahl, Eric Smith, and Karol Mets.
Manolis Saliakas and Lars Ritzka should be the two wing-backs, with the duo providing width in the final third. In addition, they will often drop deep in the defensive phases, with the formation changing to a 5-4-1.
Robert Wagner and captain Jackson Irvine will pair up in the central midfield partnership, looking to keep things tight in the middle of the park. Johannes Eggestein will lead the line for FC St. Pauli, with Morgan Guilavogui and Oladapo Afolayan being the two wide attackers.
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Ryerson, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Sabitzer, Gross; Malen, Brandt, Gittens; Guirassy
St Pauli possible starting lineup:
Vasilj; Wahl, Smith, Mets; Saliakas, Irvine, Wagner, Ritzka; Afolayan, Eggestein, Guilavogui
Borussia Dortmund vs FC St. Pauli Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
*The two teams have crossed paths 22 times in all competitions. Dortmund have the upper hand in these meetings with 15 wins. The visitors have got the better of their southern rivals thrice and four games have ended in draws.
*Their last two meetings have taken place in the DFB-Pokal, with either side recording one win.
*They last met in the Bundesliga in the 2010-11 campaign and the hosts secured a league double, recording a 5-1 win on aggregate.
*Borussia Dortmund have an unbeaten home record in this fixture, recording seven wins in three games.
*FC St. Pauli have the worst goalscoring record in the Bundesliga this term, scoring four times in six games.
*Four of the six meetings between the two teams in the 21st century have produced over 2.5 goals, with the hosts keeping two clean sheets.
Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 2-0 St Pauli
Although Borussia Dortmund have struggled for consistency in recent weeks, it is difficult to see them losing given the poor offensive record of the visitors. It would also be surprising if St Pauli managed to avoid defeat considering the strong home form of their hosts.
The Most Popular
-
FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC) - China VS Indonesia Prediction -
Former Argentine international Fernando Gago has been appointed as the head coach of Boca Juniors -
Pochettino: Mexico performed better than us; give me more time to understand the players -
Indonesia's world ranking dropped to 130th after losing to China -
UEFA Nations League FT: Germany 1-0 Netherlands -
2024 Golden Boy Award Finalists
Facebook
Twitter
Telegram