Pre-match facts: Solid hosts, free-scoring visitors

Record against St. Pauli: Ten wins in 17 league outings
Overall: 22 games. 14 wins, 5 draws, 3 defeats. 38:17 goal difference.

In the Bundesliga: 17 games. 10 wins, 4 draws, 3 defeats. 29:14 goal difference.

Looking back: First visit in 14 years 
VfB last travelled to St. Pauli for a Bundesliga game in 2010/11, when Zdravko Kuzmanovic and Sven Schipplock got the goals in a 2-1 victory.

Back-to-back four-goal hauls on the road
VfB have scored four goals in each their last two away games, winning 4-0 in Bochum before drawing 4-4 at Union Berlin.

Solid in defence, lacking in attack
St. Pauli have conceded only 36 league goals in 2024/25 – the third best defensive record in the division. However, no team have scored fewer than the Hamburg outfit’s 26 goals in the top flight this season. Morgan Guilavogui is their top Bundesliga scorer with five.

St. Pauli have scored just ten times in their last 15 home matches, while games involving Alexander Blessin’s team have produced the fewest goals in the Bundesliga this term (62 in 31 matches). In 21 of those, at least one team has failed to find the net.

What the coaches say: “A well-organised side” 
Alexander Blessin, FC St. Pauli head coach: “We want to do the business and take the final step towards staying in the division. In VfB, we’re facing a side who were runners-up last season and have unbelievable quality in their squad.”

VfB head coach Sebastian Hoeneß: “They're a very well-organised team, who don't make it easy for opponents to get in front of their goal. We'll have to try to cause them problems in all phases of the match.”

Team news: Pauli captain ruled out, VfB skipper walking tightrope
Leonidas Stergiou won’t be able to help with this task because of a foot injury, while Justin Diehl is likewise not yet an option for the trip to Hamburg. On the positive side, Josha Vagnoman is available again after recovering from injury and will be part of the squad.

Enzo Millot, El Bilal, Dan-Axel Zagadou, Anrie Chase and Luca Raimund (all injured) remain sidelined. Atakan Karazor is one yellow card from a suspension after accumulating nine bookings this season. Jamie Leweling and Josha Vagnoman, who have both been cautioned four times, are also walking a disciplinary tightrope.

The hosts are without Connor Metcalfe, who was sent off for a second bookable offence against Werder Bremen last time out. Captain Jackson Irvine misses out with a foot injury, while Karol Mets and James Sands (both injured) are also ruled out.

Attendance
VfB will be backed by at least 2,900 supporters in Hamburg. Tickets for the away end will not be available at the stadium.