St. Pauli vs. Hoffenheim preview: Hosts out to end winless run | OneFootball

St. Pauli

St. Pauli have taken just two points from six games since recording back-to-back wins over Heidenheim and Union Berlin in January. After drawing with Augsburg, they went on to lose five consecutive games before they took a point from last Saturday’s away clash against Wolfsburg. Siebe Van der Heyden gave St. Pauli a half-time lead at the Volkswagen Arena, but Mohamed Amoura netted a 70th-minute penalty to ensure the contest finished all square.

With nine games to play, St. Pauli are hovering just outside the bottom three with two points separating them from Bochum in the relegation playoff place. They have the chance to extend that gap to five points on Friday, but that will be easier said than done, especially as they have won just two of their 12 Bundesliga home games this season. Perhaps, Alexander Blessin’s side can take confidence from the fact they recorded a 2-0 victory in November’s reverse fixture against Hoffenheim. Incidentally, St. Pauli have recorded clean sheets in five of their six Bundesliga victories this season.

Team News

The hosts are unable to call upon Sascha Burchert, Simon Zoller, Karol Mets, James Sands and Morgan Guilavogui.

Hoffenheim

Hoffenheim are currently six points clear of danger after putting together a four-game unbeaten run. They recorded away victories over Werder Bremen and Bochum, either side of a draw against Stuttgart, before they played out a 1-1 scoreline in last Sunday’s home clash with Heidenheim. Haris Tabaković gave Hoffenheim a narrow half-time lead, before Heidenheim’s Budu Zivzivadze scored in the second period to ensure the spoils were shared.

Die Kraichgauer will surely be looking forward to heading on their travels after winning three of their last four away league games. That run of results represents a significant improvement for a side that failed to win any of their first eight Bundesliga away matches this season. The visitors will fancy their chances of claiming three more points on Friday, having won their last six Bundesliga away games against promoted sides. Hoffenheim will be desperate to make a fast start after failing to score in the opening 15 minutes of any of their previous 12 away league games.

Team News

Ozan Kabak, Grischa Prömel and Ihlas Bebou are all sidelined with knee injuries. The visitors are also without Christopher Lenz, Diadié Samassékou and Adam Hložek. Meanwhile, Arthur Chaves will serve a one-match ban for an accumulation of yellow cards.