FC St. Pauli before the league summit: Can Gladbach overcome the crisis?

FC St. Pauli before the league summit: Can Gladbach overcome the crisis?

After a long dry spell in the league, FC St. Pauli was finally able to celebrate again. On October 31, 2025, the Kiezkickers celebrated a brilliant victory in the DFB Cup, which gives hope for a pleasant return to success. Hauke ​​Wahl put the first exclamation point right at the start with an early goal, while Mathias Pereira Lage secured the final point in the last minute. Ben Voll also made a significant contribution to the victory by saving two penalties, which had a decisive influence on the drama of the game. After the game, Eric Smith was optimistic: “We are on the right track,” he said, adding that the team wanted to carry this feeling with them into the next game.

But on Saturday, November 1st, the next challenge awaits the Kiezkickers, as Borussia Mönchengladbach is coming to visit. The Gladbachers have recently had a mixed phase in the Bundesliga: eight games without a win and 18 goals conceded speak for themselves. With only three points they are at the bottom of the table, which increases the pressure on the team and coach Eugen Polanski.

Changes in the coaching staff and comeback in the cup

The new coach Polanski was happy about the victory in the DFB Cup, which his team achieved with a 3-1 win against Karlsruher SC on October 28th, but the focus must now be turned back to the Bundesliga. Gladbach has not been able to win in the 15 previous games under his direction. Polanski emphasized the need to carry the momentum from the cup into the next league game and overcome the mixed performances in the league.

It is important for FC St. Pauli to successfully implement the successful game concept from the cup against Mönchengladbach. “We have to go into the game with the same intensity,” said coach Timo Schultz, setting out the route. There are also personnel changes in the squad: apart from David Nemeth and perhaps Arkadiusz Pyrka, all players are ready for action.

DFB Cup in a historical context

The DFB Cup, which was founded in 1935 as the Tschammer Cup, has since then offered space for many surprises and emotional stories. 64 teams are currently taking part, including the best teams from the Bundesliga and 2nd Bundesliga as well as regional cup winners. Every year the cup is seen as a springboard for ambitious teams and also enables amateur teams to compete against the big clubs. Reporting of unexpected results regularly generates a lot of media attention and attracts more fans.

Will FC St. Pauli be able to use the positive energy from the cup win to finally get another three-pointer in the league? The answer will be available on Saturday from 3:30 p.m. Fans can look forward to an exciting afternoon!

For further information about the DFB Cup, see the pages kicker.de and Wikipedia as well as the official club website of FC St. Pauli at fcstpauli.com recommended.