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Seventh-placed Borussia Dortmund head into this latest round of Bundesliga fixtures with plenty of ground to make up, whilst St. Pauli attempt to keep themselves out of the bottom three.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Friday October 18th 2024 – UK – 7:30pm / US ET – 2:30pm / US PT – 11:30am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – Some matches will be televised on ESPN channels so it is worth checking their schedules
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Sky Go / US – ESPN+
BORUSSIA DORTMUND PREVIEW: VICTORY REQUIRED TO CLOSE GAP AT THE SUMMIT
Borussia Dortmund’s inconsistent run of league form has seen them slide down the table recently and this represents a must-win game from their perspective. Only two of their last five Bundesliga fixtures have ended in victory for BVB with two losses and a draw mixed in. Whilst they have impressed in the Champions League, domestically they must improve.
Serhou Guirassy now being fully-fit has proven a big boost for Dortmund and offers them a significant goalscoring threat in attack with the likes of Julian Brandt feeding him opportunities and Donyell Malen in the mix as well.
ST. PAULI PREVIEW: OUT OF BOTTOM THREE AND LOOKING FORWARDS
St. Pauli will have been delighted to have spent the most recent international break outside of the bottom three having taken four points from their last three league matches. Getting that first win in particular was huge and has injected significant belief into the squad. Key to their success has arguably been reverted back to the front three that was so successful in 2. Bundesliga.
Whilst Borussia Dortmund represents a huge challenge for the visitors, they managed to take a point from another Bundesliga heavy-hitter in RB Leipzig, so St. Pauli have nothing to fear here, even though that game took place at home.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND TEAM NEWS: ADEYEMI MAIN ABSENTEE FOR HOSTS
Karim Adeyemi being ruled out of this match with a hamstring injury is a significant blow when taking into account his form over the course of this campaign so far. He is joined on the sidelines by Giovanni Reyna.
PREDICTED XI: (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Can, Gross; Malen, Brandt, Bynoe-Gittens; Guirassy
UNAVAILABLE: Adeyemi (Injured), Reyna (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
ST. PAULI TEAM NEWS: THREE-PRONGED FRONTLINE SET TO BE CONTINUE
Elias Saad and Oladapo Afolayan are expected to continue either side of Johannes Eggestein up top for the visitors. Despite his long international travel, Australian international Jackson Irvine should be ready to lead his side into battle once again.
PREDICTED XI: (3-4-3): Vasilj; Smith, Wahl, Mets; Saliakas, Metcalfe, Irvine, Treu; Saad, Eggestein, Afolayan
UNAVAILABLE: Ahlers (Injured), Ahlstrand (Injured), Boukhalfa (Injured), Burchert (Injured), Zoller (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
BORUSSIA DORTMUND VS ST. PAULI PREDICTION
St Pauli’s threat on the counter-attack makes them a difficult proposition for Borussia Dortmund, who should dominate proceedings but have kept just one clean sheet across their last five games in all competitions. Despite this, Nuri Sahin’s side being at home and with substantial strength-in-depth that could potentially overwhelm St. Pauli the longer this match goes on, are worth backing to pick up the win but not a shutout.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND VS ST. PAULI TIP: BORUSSIA DORTMUND TO WIN AND BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE