Overview
The Bundesliga 2024-2025 season has been a very forgettable one for Dortmund. After 23 rounds, they have suffered 9 losses, 5 draws and only 9 wins. They have also won only 3 out of the last 10 rounds. Those disappointing results have caused Dortmund to drop to 10th place and are further away from the top 4.
At home at Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund is still a formidable team with a high winning rate (7 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses). However, every time they are away, coach Niko Kovac's team plays very poorly. Seven of Dortmund's Bundesliga losses this season have come away. They also conceded many goals away from home (23 goals compared to 15 goals at home).
With such a poor record, even though they only have to visit St Pauli in the next round, Dortmund is predicted to not have an easy victory.
Meanwhile, St Pauli have not known the taste of victory for 4 consecutive rounds, including 3 defeats. Although currently ranked 15th in the Bundesliga, they are the 3rd best defense in the league with only 27 goals conceded, equal to Bayer Leverkusen and only behind Bayern Munich (19 goals) as well as Mainz (24 goals).
However, St Pauli's problem lies in the attack. They have only scored 18 goals in the Bundesliga this season, their worst record in the league. Therefore, despite their excellent defense, St Pauli is still not ranked well.
St Pauli's home form is also quite poor, having won only 1 of their last 5 matches. Head-to-head history has not supported them, with St Pauli losing four and winning just one of their last five meetings with Dortmund.
Personnel situation
St Pauli's injury list is extended, with centre-backs Karol Mets, Manolis Saliakas and goalkeeper Sascha Burchert all unable to play. Up front, Robert Wagner, James Sands, Morgan Guilavogui and Simon Zoller are also absent.
On the other side of the front line, Dortmund are only without Felix Nmecha and Julian Brandt.
Expected lineup:
St. Pauli: Vasilj, Nemeth, Wahl, Van der Heiden, Treu, Irvine, Smith, Ritzka, Saad, Eggestein, Weisshaupt.
Dortmund: Kobel, Ryerson, Can, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini, Sabitzer, Gross, Adeyemi, Reyna, Bynoe-Gittens, Guirassy.
The match between St Pauli and Dortmund takes place at 9:30 p.m. on January 1 (Vietnam time).
