St. Pauli vs Heidenheim Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 German Bundesliga
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After a 13-year absence, St. Pauli have returned to the top flight of German football and begin this long-awaited campaign against Heidenheim, the surprise package of last season’s Bundesliga and the side they succeeded as 2. Bundesliga champions.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday August 25th 2024: UK – 4:30pm / US ET – 11:30am / US PT – 8:30am
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+
ST. PAULI PREVIEW: BACK IN THE BUNDESLIGA, BUT AT THE COST OF THEIR HEAD COACH
Fans have St. Pauli have been waiting for this day since relegation to the 2. Bundesliga back in 2011. Since then, their side have remained in the second tier, until last season when everything finally came together and head coach Fabian Hurzeler orchestrated a magical campaign that saw St. Pauli crowned 2. Bundesliga winners. They finished on 69 points, one more than Holstein Kiel after losing just five of their 34 league games.
However, success can come at a price in football and vultures came calling in the summer. Premier League side Brighton tempted Hurzeler away from St. Pauli, who will begin life back in the Bundesliga with a new head coach in Alexander Blessin. The German was brought in from Union Saint-Gilloise on the back of having led them to a Belgian domestic league and cup double.
HEIDENHEIM PREVIEW: AFTER CASHING IN ON KEY PLAYERS, CAN HEIDENHEIM DEFY THE ODDS AGAIN
Last season has to be seen as the most successful in the history of Heidenheim. Following their dramatic final day promotion in 2022-23, they were tipped by the majority to go straight back down. But long-standing head coach Frank Schmidt not only guided them to safety, he secured Heidenheim their highest ever domestic finish of eighth-place in the Bundesliga, which was enough to earn qualification for the Conference League.
Playing competitive European football for the first time in their club’s existence marks a new chapter in Heidenheim’s remarkable story and Thursday night saw them travel to Sweden to defeat Hacken 1-2 in their Conference League play-off first-leg. With the second-leg in Germany this coming week, Heidenheim need to be careful not to lose focus when it comes to the Bundesliga, especially with a squad missing the likes of Tim Kleindienst and Jan-Niklas Beste, both of whom were sold in the summer.
ST. PAULI TEAM NEWS: CHANGE OF HEAD COACH COULD LEAD TO CHANGE IN TACTICS
Fabian Hurzeler mainly operated with a three-pronged frontline during his time at St. Pauli, but it would be no surprise if Alexander Blessin opted to set the side up in a different way, with 3-5-2 the favourite. Soren Ahlers and Sascha Burchert are out and Simon Zoller is doubtful.
PREDICTED XI: (3-5-2): Vasilj; Wahl, Smith, Mets; Stevens, Wagner, Irvine, Metcalfe, Treu; Eggestein, Guilavogui
UNAVAILABLE: Ahlers (Injured), Burchert (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Zoller (Injured)
HEIDENHEIM TEAM NEWS: SCHMIDT TO COMPENSATE FOR DEPARTED STARS
The big challenge here for Frank Schmidt is to replace players such as Kleindienst and Beste effectively and he’ll hope that striker Maximilian Breunig and Brazilian winger Leo Scienza can do just that. However, centre-back Thomas Keller and midfielder Julian Niehues are unavailable through injury.
PREDICTED XI: (4-4-2): Muller; Traore, Mainka; Gimber, Fohrenbach; Beck, Maloney, Wanner, Scienza; Pieringer, Breunig
UNAVAILABLE: Keller (Injured), Niehues (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
ST. PAULI VS HEIDENHEIM PREDICTION
You could argue that this is a very good time to play Heidenheim if you are St. Pauli. It would be totally understandable if the visitors didn’t have one eye on their Conference League play-off second-leg and are coming off the back of a long trip to Sweden only a few days prior to this match. That may well have an impact on the Heidenheim players both from a mental and physical perspective.
St. Pauli will be chomping at the bit to get out onto the pitch and the atmosphere at the historic Millerntor-Stadion will be absolutely incredible. Home advantage could play a big part when you consider the noise of the crowd, not to mention the momentum and intensity that St. Pauli are expected to bring. Back the hosts to come out on top, but via the safety of the draw no bet market.
ST. PAULI VS HEIDENHEIM TIP: ST. PAULI DRAW NO BET
