Status: 23.09.2024 10:41 a.m.
FC St. Pauli has picked up its first point against Bundesliga heavyweight RB Leipzig. The promoted team impressed with the “old” system and a lot of passion. But it still hasn’t solved one problem.
The spectators cheered loudly, the FC St. Pauli players more discreetly: The 0:0 draw against Champions League participant RB Leipzig on Sunday evening was not the Bundesliga newcomer’s great liberation, but a match that gave the Hamburg team courage after three defeats at the start of the season. “It was only the first step, but it feels good,” said defender Hauke Wahl.
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In fact, the Hamburg team showed a performance that few would have expected from them after their previous performances. Even though the Leipzig team seemed a little tired three days after their Champions League match at Atletico Madrid, it was impressive how courageous and often convincingly St. Pauli played.
Choice: “Played really St. Pauli-like”
“I think we played like St. Pauli for the first time this season. We were nasty in the tackles, defended well and kept on hitting the opponents,” said Wahl. Coach Alexander Blessin added in an interview with NDR: “We have to show this kind of play every week, even away from home. That was a good signal today.”
For the first time, the coach had not used his preferred 5-3-2 system, but the 3-4-3 known from the previous season. And even if Blessin preferred to elegantly avoid the system question in his analysis, the 3-4-3 suits this team much better. Because many automatisms work, because center forward Johannes Eggestein can bring his strengths to bear better than in a two-man attack.
Saad and Afolayan in the starting eleven for the first time
But above all because the wingers Elias Saad and Oladapo Afolayan in the starting eleven significantly raised the level of the team with their individual class and convinced across the board against the Saxons.
The question is whether Blessin will finally make the system change. Against Leipzig, he had almost no alternative, as several players who had previously been part of the starting line-up were injured or ailing.
On the other hand, it would be surprising if the coach did not play similarly in Freiburg next Saturday (3.30 p.m., in the NDR Livecenter) after this performance.
St. Pauli too harmless in front of the goal
However, St. Pauli has to solve one serious problem regardless of line-ups and game formations: its weak finishing. After four Bundesliga matches, the statistics show one measly goal. Against Leipzig, captain Jackson Irvine, actually an outstanding header, missed two great opportunities with his head.
“We should have won the game,” said the Australian angrily. But his teammates were once again not precise and consistent enough in front of the opponent’s goal. FC St. Pauli’s effectiveness and goal ratio must improve significantly if they want to have more highlights like the one against Leipzig – and if they want to be rewarded with three points instead of just one.
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Hamburg Journal | 23.09.2024 | 19:30
