News Focus
- St. Pauli must win to avoid automatic relegation to the second tier
- Wolfsburg have never dropped out of the Bundesliga in their history
- Both clubs face injury crises with seven and eight players unavailable
- The final league position also depends on Heidenheim’s result against Mainz
- The winner could secure a place in the relegation playoff
FC St. Pauli face a do-or-die battle at their Millerntor-Stadion home this weekend. The Hamburg-based club must defeat VfL Wolfsburg to keep their survival hopes alive. Anything less than three points will send them straight to the 2. Bundesliga.
The hosts currently sit at the foot of the table with just 26 points from 33 matches. They have not tasted victory in nine games. Their last win came on the road against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in February. Since then, they have drawn three and lost six contests.
Coach Alexander Blessin watches over the worst attack in the division. His side have scored only 28 goals this season. They also hold the second-worst home record, having won just four times on their own patch. Only their opponents this weekend have collected fewer points at home.
Blessin faces a major selection headache ahead of the match. Seven players are unavailable through injury. American midfielder James Sands, Greek defender Manolis Saliakas, and Estonian centre-back Karol Mets are all sidelined. English forward Ricky-Jade Jones remains doubtful with an ankle problem.
The visitors from Wolfsburg share the same points total but sit two places higher in 16th position. However, they have won only twice since the turn of the year. Their most recent victory came against 1. FC Union Berlin in April. Like St. Pauli, they have struggled to find form in the closing weeks of the campaign.
Dieter Hecking’s side carry a proud record into this fixture. The club has never been relegated from the top flight since they first joined in 1997. This history adds extra pressure to their survival bid on Saturday.
Wolfsburg also face serious fitness concerns. Eight players are missing from the squad. Austrian winger Patrick Wimmer is definitely out with a muscle injury. Danish striker Jonas Wind and German right-back Kilian Fischer may return, but only if their team reaches the relegation playoff.
The maths are complicated for both clubs. A win for St. Pauli keeps them in contention. However, they also need 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 to drop points against 1. FSV Mainz 05. If Heidenheim win, St. Pauli must triumph by a bigger margin to climb above them on goal difference.
Wolfsburg can secure the playoff spot with a victory and a Heidenheim slip-up. A draw might be enough for the Wolves, but only if Heidenheim also fail to win. If both matches end level, both St. Pauli and Wolfsburg will go down together.
The two sides met in January at the Volkswagen Arena. Wolfsburg won that contest 1-0 thanks to a late goal from Dženan Pejčinović. History favours the visitors, who have never lost to St. Pauli in competitive Bundesliga matches.
This clash promises high drama at the wrong end of the table. Both sets of supporters will watch nervously, knowing that 90 minutes could decide their fate for next season.