Matchday in focus: FC St. Pauli | OneFootball

Tireless St. Pauli go to great lengths to defend their own goal, but they don’t score many at the other end of the pitch either.

Tactics

Goals have been in short supply at both ends of the pitch with St. Pauli this season. The Hamburg outfit boast the second strongest defence in the Bundesliga, with only Bayern Munich conceding fewer goals after 32 matchdays than St. Pauli’s 37. They have only found the net 26 times at the other end, however – fewer than any other team in the division.

“They have a solid team, are very stable defensively and are very well prepared for the opposition in every game,” said Eintracht boss Dino Toppmöller. “They have really good ideas in attack. What they’re lacking is that final penetration, because they don’t have a player who guarantees ten-plus goals [a season]. Their patterns of play are really good to watch, though.”

Absentees

Mario Götze and Kaua Santos remain sidelined for Eintracht’s final home game of the season.

Aside from Nikola Vasilj and Siebe Van der Heyden, who were both sent off for second bookable offences last weekend, St. Pauli are without Jackson Irvine (hairline foot fracture), Elias Saad (muscle), Karol Mets (knee) and Simon Zoller (muscle).

One to watch: Philipp Treu

With 360 kilometres on the clock so far – the fourth highest tally in the division – Philipp Treu is emblematic of the Hanseatic side’s hard-working attitude.

“My work ethic has always been a great strength as far as my style of play is concerned, and as a wide player it’s also very important,” said the 24-year-old Heidelberg native. “I always try to give my all and I think I’ve developed really well in that regard. I came from the third division and made a conscious decision not to skip the second tier. I’ve accompanied the club on their journey.”

Philipp Treu …

Key stats and runs

Eintracht are on a 14-match unbeaten run against promoted sides, winning their last four – including a 1-0 success against St. Pauli at the Millerntor earlier this term.

St. Pauli have gone back-to-back away games without defeat for the first time this season. They have picked up 17 points on the road this term – a new club record.

The Eagles have lost only one of their last seven Bundesliga games. They have won their last three at Deutsche Bank Park without conceding.

Reunited

Striker Igor Matanovic spent 13 years with St. Pauli.