Two teams are facing each other at Millerntor for whom there is a lot at stake at this stage of the season, albeit with different objectives.
St. Pauli sent out a clear signal in the relegation battle with a 1-0 away win in Hoffenheim, their second victory in a row. Disciplined, compact and with an outstanding Vasilj in goal, the Kiezkickers defended passionately, while up front Pereira Lage provided the decisive punch with his debut goal. Blessin's team looks more solid, believes in itself again and knows that at home, the Millerntor can be a factor. The next big point should follow against Frankfurt.
However, Eintracht are also in good form. The 2-0 win against Freiburg under Albert Riera was the next step towards stability. The Hessians were patient, controlled the game, and were focused defensively, and the coach once again proved his knack for picking the right substitutes with Chaibi's winning goal. Frankfurt have their sights set firmly on the top of the table – sixth place and a place in international competition are within reach again.
Prediction: Both teams are going into the game with momentum. St. Pauli wants to use its upward trend to gain some breathing room in the relegation battle, while Frankfurt wants to stay in the race for international spots.