Yahoo Sports St. Pauli vs. Werder Bremen preview: Hosts aiming for back-to-back home wins
St. Pauli
Newly-promoted St. Pauli are sitting one point outside the bottom three after winning three, drawing two and losing eight of their 13 league matches. They recorded the most recent of those three victories at the end of November when they recorded a 3-1 home victory against Holstein Kiel. However, they were unable to follow that win with a positive result in last Saturday’s away meeting with Bayer Leverkusen. Morgan Guilavogui’s 84th-minute effort proved to be a mere consolation in a narrow 2-1 defeat at the BayArena.
Alexander Blessin’s side will now return to the Millerntor-Stadion, where they will have the opportunity to claim consecutive home league wins for the first time since they returned to the top flight. However, that may be easier said than done, especially as St. Pauli have failed to win any of their last five competitive meetings with Bremen (D2, L3). As a result, they are looking to clinch their first head-to-head win since they picked up a 3-1 win in a DFB-Pokal tie in January 2006. However, they have not beaten Bremen in the Bundesliga since they recorded a 3-1 victory in August 1977.
Team News
St. Pauli are having to cope with a lengthy injury list which includes Karol Mets, Connor Metcalfe, Ronny Seibt, Robert Wagner, Elias Saad, Simon Zoller and Sascha Burchert. Scott Banks has returned to training following a spell on the sidelines, but he is unlikely to be risked in Saturday’s fixture. Meanwhile, Guilavogui will serve a one-match ban for an accumulation of yellow cards.
Werder Bremen
Bremen are currently sitting in 10th place after collecting 19 points from 13 league matches this season. Ole Werner’s side may be sitting in the bottom half of the table, but they are just two points adrift of the top six ahead of Saturday’s trip to the Millerntor-Stadion. They will head on their travels in a positive mood after winning both of their last two competitive outings.
Anthony Jung scored a stoppage-time winner to claim a narrow 1-0 victory in Bremen’s DFB-Pokal tie against Darmstadt. After progressing to the quarter-finals, Die Werderaner recorded another narrow victory in their most recent league outing against Bochum. Jens Stage’s 56th-minute effort proved enough to guide Bremen to a fourth victory in their last six away games.
In fact, Bremen have taken 13 points from their seven Bundesliga away matches this season - a tally that has only been bettered by leaders Bayern Munich. The visitors will also take confidence from the fact they have won each of their last seven Bundesliga meetings with St. Pauli.
Team News
The visitors are unable to call upon the injured quartet of Leonardo Bittencourt, Justin Njinmah, Felix Agu and Keke Topp.
