St Pauli vs 1. FC Köln preview: First of many relegation six-pointers

St Pauli vs 1. FC Köln preview: First of many relegation six-pointers St. Pauli St Pauli are low off the back of a customary thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich which many teams around them in the table (Hamburg, Werder Bremen, Heidenheim, Wolfsburg) have already received this season.

Therefore, all dips in hope will no doubt be held within reason as St. Pauli look to take on a more level opponent in Köln. However, it will not be an easy game.

St Pauli's Rückrunde (second half of the season) table has not seen them in the bottom three (13th) so they are playing a game of catch-up from 2025's missed opportunities. Despite this, the table does reflect whereabouts St Pauli were projected by many to finish albeit with the point that they have conceded far too many goals compared to last season. With a favourable fixture list , St Pauli will hope that Nikola Vaslij can continue to keep the defence in shape as he is the third-highest for number of saves in the entire Bundesliga.

Ahead of the game, St Pauli coach has made some peculiar comments and said: “Now we are especially not going to be dancing on chairs (German idiom). " Team news St Pauli will be without Ricky Jade Jones who is a long-term injury and most likely without loanee James Sands and also Eric Smith as starters. Joel Chima Fujita is suspended for one game due to yellow cards.