Confident victory announcement before the key match! Union-Star Derrick Kühn (27) looks ahead to the home game on Sunday against FC St. Pauli (3:30 pm/DAZN and BILD.de-Liveticker) – and is optimistic. Kühn: “I hope for a win, I also believe that we will win. But I don’t want to talk too big.”
He better not. St. Pauli is deep in the relegation battle and wants to get out of 16th place. The Hamburg team is considered difficult to play against – exactly what Kühn warns about: “It will be a tough game, Pauli is always difficult to play against, a tough opponent. They will have analyzed us and know what we are good at. This duel will not be a cakewalk.”
But the Irons also feel prepared. After the international break, the focus is on the final stretch and the direct duels at the bottom of the table. These are the kind of games that must be won if Union coach Steffen Baumgart (54) and his team want to avoid relegation. With a win against St. Pauli, salvation would be almost certain. In recent years, usually 34 points have been enough – a mark that Union can now reach.
The statistics favor Berlin: Union has been unbeaten against St. Pauli in ten home games, with only one draw. The last defeat? Over a decade ago – in November 2011. Kühn is specific: “I’ll go with a 2-0 for us.”
One thing still worries him: Kühn is at four yellow cards. Another would mean a suspension – and that would hurt in the final stretch of the season. “If it really doesn’t work, you have to intervene. But you should avoid unnecessary things like kicking the ball away or arguing with the referee. Once you’re at four, leave it.”
