When it comes to scoring goals, Bayern’s next opponents in the Bundesliga, FC St. Pauli (Saturday, 15:30 CET), are somewhat economical. The promoted outfit have managed just 20 goals in the 26 matchdays to date – to put that into context, FCB goal-getter Harry Kane, the league’s top scorer, has found the net more times alone (21) than the Hamburg club. There are still reasons for St. Pauli to travel to Munich with belief, though. Read why, and what the other important facts and figures around the match are, here:
Relying on defence
However, St. Pauli’s 20 goals scored are balanced by just 30 goals conceded, making them the third-best defence in the Bundesliga after Bayern (24) and Mainz 05 (28). What's more, only the record champions have allowed fewer attempts on their goal (55) than the Kiezkicker (105). Whether their bulwark can now stand up to the best attack in the league – Bayern have already banged in 75 goals – remains to be seen.
Home run against promoted teams
On paper, Bayern’s home match against the Bundesliga returnees is clear cut – and the Munich men’s recent results in these fixtures underline that theory. Bayern have won each of their last eight Bundesliga home meetings against promoted sides, by an impressive aggregate score of 43-7. On average, therefore, FCB have scored over five goals against their opponents. The last time they dropped points against a promoted team at the Allianz Arena was in a 3-3 draw with Arminia Bielefeld in February 2021.
Record clearly in Bayern’s favour
The recent history of this fixture is also mostly one-sided. Bayern have won eight of their last nine games in all competitions against St. Pauli, the only defeat during this period coming back in February 2002 with a 2-1 defeat at home in the Bundesliga, when the Hamburg club declared themselves “Weltpokalsiegerbesieger” (“conquerors of the Intercontinental Cup winners”). FCB won the most recent meeting earlier this season 1-0 thanks to Jamal Musiala’s wonder goal (watch). What’s more, the Bavarians have lost just once in eight home encounters with St. Pauli (W6, D1) – and that was over 34 years ago (1-0 in March 1991).
Pauli missing from Kane’s set
It's an impressive collection that Harry Kane has put together, but unfortunately it’s not yet complete. The England captain has scored at least once against 18 of the 19 clubs he’s faced in the Bundesliga – just not against St. Pauli. The forward can now rectify this minor shortcoming and also find the net against the 19th Bundesliga opponent of his career. Incidentally, the record here is held by Miroslav Klose, who’s the only player in the history of the German top flight to have come up against a greater of different opponents and scored against all them (28).
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