Promoted FC St. Pauli have picked up their first point of the season. After three previous defeats, the Bundesliga club surprisingly held Champions League contenders RB Leipzig to a 0-0 draw. Coach Marco Rose's side missed out on finishing second in the table, but the fifth-placed side, who are level on points and goals with 1. FC Union Berlin, have not been beaten in 15 league games, equalling the record set in 2019.
The Saxons, who were unsuccessful in the European Cup during the week, looked powerless and lacking in ideas in front of 29,251 spectators and had to settle for a justified draw. The attack-minded Hamburg side, reminiscent of the fast-paced soccer from the promotion season, should even have taken the lead at one stage.
St. Pauli started offensively
A certain European Cup fatigue seemed to be circulating among the Saxons. Leipzig traveled to the Hanseatic city with the bitter 2-1 defeat in the top flight at Atlético Madrid, including a goal conceded at the end of the game. Coach Rose made five changes to his squad, bringing on RB veteran Yussuf Poulsen instead of top attacker Lois Openda.
St. Pauli coach Alexander Blessin, who worked as a youth coach at Leipzig between 2012 and 2020, apparently reacted to criticism in recent weeks and brought on the more offensively active attacking players Oladapo Afolayan and Elias Saad from the start.
St. Pauli created more chances in the first half
As a result, St. Pauli looked much more dangerous up front compared to the first three matchdays, which had all resulted in defeats for the Kiez club. It was Saad (17) who created the first big chance with his powerful shot at RB goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi, who reacted well. The subsequent corner kick was headed just over the visitors' goal by captain Jackson Irvine (18).
The fast wingers repeatedly caused problems for the RB defense under the vociferous support of the fans in the stands. Meanwhile, Hamburg's defense hardly gave the Dutch creative engine Xavi Simons any space to develop. Leipzig made several mistakes in the build-up play and lost many duels. The strong Afolayan (42) missed the overdue opening goal.
Rose with triple change
The second half started similarly to the first. Leipzig, lacking in ideas, held back, while the hosts made the play. The still active Afolayan went down after a duel in the penalty area (55') and demanded a penalty. But referee Robert Hartmann saw things differently.
Rose reacted a little later with a triple substitution and brought on Openda, among others. The Belgian then tested St. Pauli's Nikola Vasilj with his shot. But even after that, the visitors remained far too harmless.
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