Bayern Munich will aim to continue the perfect start to the 2024/25 season when they take on St. Pauli at Millerntor-Stadion on Saturday.
The 2024/25 Bundesliga season resumes this week with Matchday 10, with the latest round of fixtures kicking off with a Friday night game between Union Berlin and SC Freiburg. The action on Saturday will begin with four simultaneous matches, including St. Pauli vs Bayern Munich at Millerntor-Stadion.
FC St. Pauli endured a trial by fire at the onset of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season. The Boys in Brown failed to win their first four top-flight games, with the run of results leaving them in the drop zone. However, the results have improved in recent weeks, with Alexander Blessin’s men winning two of their last five matches to rise to 15th in the standings.
As for Bayern Munich, Die Roten came into the 2024/25 campaign determined to return to the summit of German football after meekly conceding the title to Bayer Leverkusen last term and finishing the season without a trophy. However, Vincent Kompany has successfully pushed his ideas to the squad this term, with his charges creating a three-point lead atop the table after going unbeaten in their first nine outings.
FC St. Pauli and Bayern Munich last locked horns 13 years ago, with Die Roten cruising to an 8-1 win, the Bavarian outfit’s biggest away victory in the Bundesliga. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
FC St. Pauli
Alexander Blessin has several pressing injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The St. Pauli manager will be bereft of the services of seven first-team players vs Bayern Munich on Saturday.
The goalkeeping department is struggling with an injury crisis, with Ben Alexander Voll (jaw), Soren Ahlers (knee), and Sascha Burchert (surgery) on the sidelines. In addition, Conor Metcalfe (muscle problems), Elias Saad (ligament injury), Philipp Treu (thigh), and Simon Zoller (muscular) are in the treatment room.
Nikola Vasilj is an automatic pick between the sticks, with FC St. Pauli lining up in a 3-4-3 formation in front of him vs Bayern Munich on Saturday. The central defensive unit should feature Hauke Wahl, Eric Smith, and Karol Mets. Manolis Saliakas and Lars Ritzka will be the two wing-backs, with the duo providing width in the final third and protecting the centre-backs.
As for the midfield unit, Carlo Boukhalfa and captain Jackson Irvine will pair up in the double pivot, with the duo looking to keep things tight in the middle of the park. Johannes Eggestein will lead the line for St. Pauli against Bayern Munich, with Morgan Guillavogui and Dapo Afolayan completing the numbers in the final third.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Vasilj; Wahl, Smith, Mets; Saliakas, Irvine, Boukhalfa, Ritzka; Afolayan, Eggestein, Guilavogui
Bayern Munich
Unlike his counterpart in the FC St. Pauli dugout, Vincent Kompany does not have many issues to worry about ahead of the trip to the Millerntor-Stadion. The Bayern Munich manager will be without four first-team players on Saturday.
Aleksandar Pavlovic is the most notable absentee, with the young midfielder recovering from a broken collarbone. Sacha Boey (knee), Hiroki Ito (foot), and Josip Stanisic (knee) are the other players on the sidelines.
Manuel Neuer will take his spot between the sticks, with Bayern Munich lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs FC St. Pauli on Saturday. The backline will feature Raphael Guerreiro, Dayot Upamecano, Kim Min-jae, and Alphonso Davies.
As for the midfield unit, Joshua Kimmich and Joao Palhinha will pair up in the double pivot. Jamal Musiala will reprise the no. 10 role, with Michael Olise and Kingsley Coman being the two wide attackers. Finally, there is no looking past Harry Kane as the central striker for the away side.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Guerreiro, Upamecano, Kim, Davies; Kimmich, Palhinha; Olise, Musiala, Coman; Kane
Key Stats
- FC St. Pauli have won only one of their ten home games vs Bayern Munich (D3 L6). The most recent meeting between the two sides ended in an 8-1 win for Bayern. That was the biggest away win in the Bundesliga for Die Roten and the worst top-flight defeat for St. Pauli.
- FC St. Pauli have scored a league-low seven goals in the Bundesliga this season, while Bayern Munich have found the back of the net 32 times, more than any top-flight club.
- No manager ever has seen his team net as many goals in his first nine Bundesliga fixtures as Vincent Kompany (32). Bayern Munich have been prolific on their travels, scoring at least thrice in their five Bundesliga away games, a league record run alongside Bayern in the 2019/20 campaign.
- FC St. Pauli are the first promoted team to go their first five home Bundesliga games of a season without scoring.
- Bayern Munich have scored at least three goals in their five away fixtures so far in 2024/25. Another outing with three or more strikes on Saturday will see Vincent Kompany’s men set a Bundesliga record.
Player to Watch
Michael Olise
Michael Olise has taken no time to establish himself as a pivotal figure for Bayern Munich, justifying the Bavarian club’s heavy investment in the summer transfer window. The Frenchman has an excellent tally of seven goals and four assists in 14 appearances across all competitions thus far this term.
With Leroy Sane struggling with fitness issues and likely approaching the end of his spell with Bayern Munich, Olise’s stock has soared. So, the 22-year-old French international must continue making his mark, especially with Vincent Kompany eager to see every attacker contribute handsomely with goals and assists.
Prediction
FC St. Pauli 0-2 Bayern Munich
FC St. Pauli would have hoped for a better home record after returning to the Bundesliga. However, they have struggled at Millerntor-Stadion, failing to score in four outings thus far. That has not impacted them defensively, with Alexander Blessin’s men conceding only five goals at home.
As for Bayern Munich, Die Roten cannot stop scoring, with Vincent Kompany taking to the Bundesliga like a fish to water. However, FC St. Pauli will restrict Bayern for long stretches before the visitors inevitably pull the trigger. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 win for Kompany and his charges.
