Tonight’s Bundesliga North Derby features FC St. Pauli against Holstein Kiel, both teams desperate to avoid defeat in a critical relegation clash. With kickoff at 8:30 PM, St. Pauli’s coach, Alexander Blessin, aims to end a troubling goal drought, while Kiel’s Marcel Rapp seeks to boost his team’s confidence after a recent loss. Both sides are eager to leverage their training during the international break, setting the stage for a fiercely contested match.
High Stakes in North Derby: FC St. Pauli vs. Holstein Kiel
This evening, the highly anticipated North Derby in the Bundesliga will see FC St. Pauli take on Holstein Kiel, with both teams facing a “no loss” scenario as they dive into a crucial relegation battle. The match kicks off at 8:30 PM and will be broadcast live on the NDR Live Center.
Pressure Mounts on Coaches Ahead of Match
As the clock ticks down to kickoff, the pressure is palpable, particularly for FC St. Pauli’s head coach, Alexander Blessin. He has candidly expressed his frustration regarding his team’s ongoing goal drought at home, which he describes as “brutally annoying.” Blessin is determined to turn things around this Friday night and is eager to end the team’s scoring woes at Millerntor, promising fans a celebration following a long-awaited goal. “We want to celebrate with our fans,” he stated, highlighting the significance of the match.
The challenge lies in how his players will respond to this call for action. Their recent 0-2 defeat against Borussia Mönchengladbach marks their seventh match without a goal this season. Blessin has emphasized the need for a stronger performance and improved body language on the field: “We are aware of the seriousness of the game. It will be a fight to bend and break, and we need to be ready for that,” he asserted, noting the tension as the team sits in 16th place with just eight points after eleven matchdays.
Meanwhile, Holstein Kiel is also aware of the stakes, currently sitting in 17th place with only five points. Coach Marcel Rapp acknowledged the importance of the match, stating, “Everyone can see what it’s about. We know it’s a special game. The Friday night adds a special atmosphere.” However, Kiel arrives in Hamburg with a cloud over their confidence after a disappointing 0-3 loss to Mainz 05. Rapp remains optimistic, insisting, “Tomorrow will be different. We stick together. We have proven that in the past, which is why we were promoted.” He is hopeful for his team’s second victory of the season to send a strong message to their rivals.
On the touchline, the two coaches, Rapp and Blessin, share a history, having played together at SC Pfullendorf from 2003 to 2005. While their friendship flourished during those years, it will take a backseat for the duration of the match.
In terms of player availability, St. Pauli will be missing Karol Mets due to a painful patellar tendon injury. For Kiel, Magnus Knudsen returns from a yellow card suspension, while Rapp will have most of his squad available, aside from long-term absentees Carl Johansson and Alexander Bernhardsson.
Possible line-ups for the match are as follows:
St. Pauli: Vasilj – Wahl, Smith, Nemeth – Saliakas, Irvine, Boukhalfa, Treu – Afolayan, Eggestein, Guilavogui
Kiel: Weiner – Ivezic, Erras, Geschwill – Holtby – Becker, Knudsen, Remberg, Puchacz – Skrzybski – Harres
As both clubs prepare for this critical clash, they are eager to capitalize on their training during the international break. The Hamburg side hopes to break free from the relegation zone, aiming for their second home win of the season, while the “Storks” look to make their mark in this tightly contested battle.