St. Pauli under pressure: Derby against HSV decides whether to stay in the league!

St. Pauli under pressure: Derby against HSV decides whether to stay in the league!

On Friday, January 21, 2026, the 113th Hamburg city derby will be played in the Millerntor Stadium. FC St. Pauli meets Hamburger SV and the signs are clear: both teams are under pressure. While HSV is currently ranked 14th in the Bundesliga, St. Pauli is at the bottom and urgently needs points. The outcome of this game could be crucial for both clubs when it comes to staying in the league. As NDR reports, St. Pauli won the first leg 2-0 and could reduce the gap to HSV to just two points with a win.

The pressure is particularly on coach Alexander Blessin, who emphasizes the importance of the game for the fans and is under pressure to succeed. On the other hand, HSV coach Merlin Polzin is combative: his team wants to convince through performance and not through big slogans. It will be exciting to see whether HSV can break its weak away record of no wins in the current first half of the season, which is unique in the club's history.

Statistical balance and current form

The balance sheet from the 112 duels so far speaks clearly for HSV. There are 70 wins, 17 draws and only 25 defeats against their city rivals. In the Bundesliga duels, HSV has won 8 times, while St. Pauli was only able to celebrate 3 times. The goal difference of 29 to 16 for HSV underlines the dominance in this game. Nevertheless, St. Pauli has the chance to change this trend and show after the first leg that their form curve can continue to point upwards after the 2-0 win.

Both teams also demonstrate their strengths in defense; They are particularly solid in standard situations. HSV has yet to concede a goal from a corner, while St. Pauli has only conceded one goal from such a situation and ranks third in the league in this regard. Compared to the offensive, however, things look rather poor: HSV has scored 17 goals in the season so far and is therefore only in 16th place. St. Pauli scored the fewest goals in the league with 16 goals and only had 183 shots on goal, the lowest in the Bundesliga.

Personnel situation and key players

There will be important absences from the lineup. HSV is missing captain Yussuf Poulsen and central defender Guilherme Ramos. All other players are available for this. St. Pauli can count on Jackson Irvine returning from injury, which could be a real advantage for the team. Danel Sinani is also returning and will strengthen the squad. Joel Fujita in particular is seen as a key player for St. Pauli who could provide new impetus in the offensive.

The upcoming encounter not only has great prestige but also high relegation value. The facts and statistics make it clear how important this matchday is for both teams. Fans of both camps can look forward to a heated and exciting duel that will continue to shape Hamburg's football history. Things will definitely get busy at the Millerntor! However, the assessments and preparations remain exciting until kick-off.