St Pauli vs Stuttgart: Team News, Lineups, and Match Predictions
St. Pauli will face VfB Stuttgart this Saturday at the Millerntor-Stadion, as they fight to avoid relegation in the Bundesliga. St. Pauli has not won since mid-December, while Stuttgart aims for their fifth consecutive victory.
Match Preview
St. Pauli’s situation worsened after a 3-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB Pokal quarter-final. The team lost Ricky-Jade Jones to a season-ending ankle injury. Head coach Alexander Blessin is under pressure, as his team sits five points from safety. However, off the pitch, St. Pauli is celebrating a projected turnover of €100 million, a first in club history.
St. Pauli remains unbeaten at home since November, though they have drawn their last two matches there against Hamburger SV and RB Leipzig.
Stuttgart’s Current Form
VfB Stuttgart is enjoying an exciting period, competing for a DFB Pokal semi-final and a European knockout spot. Under head coach Sebastian Hoeness, who joined in 2023, Stuttgart has won one trophy and lost only once in their last 11 games. They have won four of their last five Bundesliga matches, currently positioned in the top four, just six points behind Borussia Dortmund.
Recent Team Forms
- St. Pauli Bundesliga form: D, L, L, D, D, L
- St. Pauli form (all competitions): L, L, D, D, L, L
- Stuttgart Bundesliga form: D, W, W, D, W, W
- Stuttgart form (all competitions): D, L, W, W, W, W
Team News
St. Pauli will miss Jones, who is set for ankle surgery in Munich. Defender Hauke Wahl also misses the match due to a ligament strain. Other injured players include Andreas Hountondji, Connor Metcalfe, and David Nemeth.
Stuttgart will be without teenage midfielder Lazar Jovanovic due to a back injury. Defender Dan-Axel Zagadou is also unavailable due to a tendon injury. There are uncertainties regarding the fitness of Nikolas Nartey and Tiago Tomas.
Possible Lineups
| St. Pauli | Stuttgart |
|---|---|
| Vasilj | Nubel |
| Ando, Smith, Mets | Assignon, Al-Dakhil, Chabot, Hendriks |
| Saliakas, Rasmussen, Sands, Pyrka | Stiller, Chema |
| Sinani, Fujita | El Khannouss, Undav, Leweling |
| Kaars | Demirovic |
Prediction: St. Pauli 1 – 3 Stuttgart. Despite a strong home performance, St. Pauli faces a potent Stuttgart side eager to maintain their push for a top-four finish.
