St. Pauli surprises Gladbach and moves into the DFB Cup quarter-finals!

St. Pauli surprises Gladbach and moves into the DFB Cup quarter-finals!

FC St. Pauli caused a sensation on December 4, 2025 by beating Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1 in the DFB Cup. This surprising turnaround in the away game at Borussia Park enables Hamburg to advance to the quarter-finals, which is already happening for the seventh time in the club's history. 48,104 spectators experienced an exciting match that captivated the fans. With a generous prize of 1.7 million euros for reaching the quarter-finals, the DFB is ensuring that success is also financially rewarded.

St. Pauli wasn't exactly dominant in the first half, and Mönchengladbach initially had better chances. But in the 43rd minute, Martijn Kaars gave the visitors the lead, scoring his first goal for the club. Gladbach equalized in the 56th minute through Haris Tabakovic. In an exciting final phase, Louis Oppie secured the victory for FC St. Pauli with a goal in the 83rd minute, which sent the entire stadium into celebration.

A win after a negative series

This victory has a double meaning for St. Pauli. After the team had previously suffered nine defeats in a row in the Bundesliga, the success in the DFB Cup was almost a liberating blow. Coach Alexander Blessin had made two changes to the line-up compared to the last game and apparently showed a good hand. Oladapo Afolayan, who is fit, was again not in the squad.

Coach Eugen Polanski from Borussia Mönchengladbach recognized the importance of the game and emphasized that the negative record from the Bundesliga (0-4 defeat against St. Pauli recently) no longer played a role. The team now has to concentrate on the next league game against 1. FC Köln on Saturday, where St. Pauli is still in a direct relegation zone in the Bundesliga.

Tension remains in the cup

The draw for the quarter-finals will take place next Sunday and the excitement is already palpable. Who will be the next opponent for FC St. Pauli? The answer to this remains open until the draw. The cup always has its own laws, and Hamburg have proven that they can expect anything.

Overall, this victory not only strengthens St. Pauli's claim, but also gives positive impetus for the coming games. After all, after such a success, the team will certainly perform completely differently than before. Spectators and fans can look forward to an exciting time.

Club president Oke Göttlich has made it clear on social media that he wants to stick with coach Blessin - a sign of continuity in a year full of challenges for the club. The combination of support and ambition could be crucial in giving FC St. Pauli the momentum it needs for the second half of the season.

The anticipation for the upcoming games is great, and the Hamburg fans can proudly announce: We'll be there again!

For more details about the surprising cup success, visit the articles at Fink Hamburg, NDR and Kicker.