How well is second division leader FC St. Pauli coming back from the international break? The answer will be available on Sunday in the home game against SC Paderborn. Coach Fabian Hürzeler is bothered by mental games about when his team can be promoted to the Bundesliga.
The 31-year-old football teacher made one thing clear in the press conference on Maundy Thursday: Nobody should be too sure that it is only a matter of time when FC St. Pauli will be promoted to the Bundesliga, according to the St. -Pauli coach. Hürzeler doesn’t want the big lead of ten points over third-placed city rivals HSV and even eleven points over a non-promotion rank to become a danger.
“We’re not allowed to get involved in all the arithmetic issues and speculation. It’s definitely not an issue in the team,” said Hürzeler before the home game against SC Paderborn on Sunday (1:30 p.m., in the live center on >). “I emphasize week after week that in this extremely balanced league it’s all about playing the next game and preparing as well as possible for the next opponent, in the current case Paderborn.”
Data: Draw against Paderborn likely
According to an AI-based data analysis by GSN, the brown-whites could make it into the upper house early in the home game against FC Hansa Rostock on April 26th. On the other hand, the data says that only a draw will be enough for the sovereign leaders on the upcoming 27th matchday in front of their home crowd against the East Westphalia, who are also still in the promotion race.
That wouldn’t be enough for Hürzeler: “The big issue is how we can beat Paderborn.” This didn’t work in the first leg. After a 2-1 lead, Hamburg conceded a goal in the 82nd minute to make the final score 2-2.
Hürzeler: Paderborn “sometimes a surprise bag”
St. Pauli’s coach has a lot of respect for the East Westphalians. “This is a team that can beat any opponent. They have already proven that impressively this season,” said Hürzeler, who particularly praised the SCP’s tactical variability. “You have to prepare for several scenarios. Sometimes it’s a surprise package – what’s in store for you?” The Paderborn team has often suffered inexplicable setbacks, such as the 1:2 defeat against second-to-last Eintracht Braunschweig. Otherwise they would be in the middle of the promotion race.
According to Hürzeler, it is questionable whether the ailing Carlo Boukhalfa, Oladapo Afolayan and Philipp Treu can be there. Attacker Simon Zoller is out. Offensive player Elias Saad is missing due to suspension. At least the nine national players returned healthy from their international trips.
Possible lineups:
FC St. Paul: Vasilj – Wahl, Smith, Mets – Saliakas, Irvine, Hartel, Treu – Metcalfe, Eggestein, Amenyido
SC Paderborn: Boevink – Hoffmeier, Musliu, Brackelmann – Obermair, D. Kinsombi, Hansen, Zehnter – Bilbija, Kostons, Klaas
This topic in the program:
sports club | 31.03.2024 | 10:50 p.m