St Pauli — Borussia Dortmund : Match Preview and Prediction for August 23,2025

St. Pauli’s Pre-Season Form and Squad Challenges

Blessin’s squad, much like last season, is likely to find itself embroiled in a struggle for survival. The team’s roster has not been strengthened; in fact, the hosts have lost two key players from their attacking line, Gilavogi and Saad. Nevertheless, this didn’t significantly hinder their performance in friendly matches – they secured five victories in seven games. While their opponents weren’t always top-tier clubs, their emphatic win against Nice is certainly noteworthy and suggests some underlying potential.

Current Form and Unavailable Players for St. Pauli

A modest progression to the next stage of the national cup, coupled with low goal conversion rates against Norderstedt, might indicate a potential issue. However, for St. Pauli, the primary focus right now is securing results, regardless of the performance. The hosts will be without Jade-Jones, Irvine, and Mets for this crucial encounter. Furthermore, their home record shows only one victory in their last seven matches in front of their own supporters, which is a significant cause for concern.

Early Season Concerns for Borussia Dortmund

A degree of apprehension might be settling among the “Black and Yellows” fanbase following the team’s inaugural official match. In the national cup, Borussia managed only a narrow one-goal victory over the modest Essen side, scoring just once. Historically, away fixtures have never been the team’s strongest suit. For instance, last season, Dortmund’s squad secured merely six victories in seventeen away matches, finishing with an unfavorable goal difference.

Squad Fitness and Head-to-Head Record for Borussia Dortmund

Due to their participation in the Club World Cup, Borussia had only a month of rest. Since mid-June, the visitors have been playing consistently. On one hand, this is beneficial as team cohesion and tactical understanding might already be well-developed. On the other hand, fatigue could be setting in after a demanding schedule. The core of the squad has been retained, but the absence of Can, Duranville, and Schlotterbeck will present a noticeable challenge in central midfield. The “Black and Yellows” boast an impressive record of 11 wins in their last 12 head-to-head encounters, making them deserved favorites with bookmakers. However, the question remains: will the challenging scenario of their first official match repeat itself?