Preview: Kicking 2025 off in Hamburg | OneFootball

Eintracht’s first game of the new year is away to St. Pauli, whose coach masterminded victory over the Eagles 11 months ago.

Backdrop

Three weeks after signing off for 2024, the Bundesliga returns from its winter break this weekend, with Eintracht Frankfurt away to FC St. Pauli on Saturday 11 January (15:30 CET). Flying high The Eagles ended last year on a five-game winless run in all competitions, but nevertheless remain third in the Bundesliga standings. St. Pauli, meanwhile, produced a statement result in their last league assignment with a 1-0 success over VfB Stuttgart.

New arrivals The Hamburg-based club, currently 14th in the table, signed three new players in the first week of the January transfer window – more than any other team. Striker Abdoulie Ceesay arrived from Estonian team Paide, while loan deals were completed for SC Freiburg winger Noah Weißhaupt and New York City FC defensive midfielder James Sands.

For Eintracht, Jens Petter Hauge is back in Frankfurt following his loan at FK Bodø/Glimt.

Revenge against Blessin?

Prior to taking over the reins at St. Pauli at the start of the season, Alexander Blessin was in charge of Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. He steered the Belgian club into the last 16 of the UEFA Europa Conference League in February 2024 thanks to a 2-2 draw and 2-1 win over Eintracht in the knockout round play-offs.

Arthur Theate is already familiar with the Stuttgart-born coach, having made his breakthrough as a pro under him at Belgian club KV Oostende in 2020.

Positive omen

Eintracht have won five of their first competitive games of the year since 2018. It is a sequence the Eagles are determined to continue in Hamburg at the weekend.