Second Bundesliga
Game at Schalke in danger? Ten corona cases at FC St. Pauli
Daniel-Kofi Kyereh from FC St. Pauli won’t be the only one who can’t believe the end of this season
© Christian Charisius / Picture Alliance
The final sprint is actually announced – the clubs at the top of the table in the second division are only a few points apart in the top six places, now every minute of the game counts. For FC St. Pauli, however, things are going to be rock solid.
The second half of the season doesn’t mean it particularly well with FC St. Pauli. The past games were already tugging on the nerves of the team and the fans, the hope of promotion is shrinking more and more. And the prospects are anything but rosy: Because the club would have to play against leaders Schalke 04 next weekend, but can’t currently estimate whether that will be possible at all – Corona sends its regards.
Nine players tested positive
“Infection was detected in nine players and one member of the team environment,” said the club on Sunday. The club explains: “After several suspected cases of corona had arisen during the obligatory quick tests on Saturday morning, an extensive PCR test on the team and those around them on Sunday provided certainty.”
According to the club, those affected went into quarantine at home, the training on Saturday was canceled after the suspected cases became known. The association did not explain exactly who is affected in the short press release.
Sports director Andreas Bornemann explained: “Of course, this outbreak comes at the absolute wrong time so shortly before the season finale. It shows once again that the virus still poses a great risk despite all the precautionary measures. We are in close consultation with the responsible authorities on this matter. FC St. Pauli is also doing everything to ensure that the game can take place in Gelsenkirchen and that we field a competitive team. But the focus is initially on the recovery of all those affected.”
Strong first half, weak second half
The Kiezklub has been stuck for a while, FC St. Pauli is only in 13th place in the second half of the current season. Timo Schultz’s team was able to score 18 points and thus gave numerous competitors the chance to take the lead in the table .
After the strong first half of the season with a total of 36 points, the first calls for promotion were heard – meanwhile, the possibility of returning to the first Bundesliga hangs by a thread. FC St. Pauli last played in the 2010/11 season in the first division.