The Bundesliga is back, and what a way to kick off the new season: St. Pauli hosts Borussia Dortmund at the Millerntor-Stadion in Hamburg on Saturday, August 23, 2025. The anticipation is electric, with both teams looking to set the tone for their campaigns in a clash that promises drama, tactical intrigue, and a showcase of some of the league’s most exciting talents.
Borussia Dortmund, under the stewardship of Niko Kovač, arrive in Hamburg as one of the Bundesliga’s most consistent sides and credible title challengers. After a rocky start to his tenure last season, Kovač has transformed the Black-and-Yellows into a formidable force, guiding them to 22 points from a possible 24 in the last eight matches of the previous campaign. That late surge included a memorable 3-1 win over Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg, sending a clear message to rivals that Dortmund mean business.
There’s a sense of continuity at Dortmund this year, a stark contrast to the upheaval of recent summers when the likes of Jadon Sancho, Erling Haaland, and Jude Bellingham departed. This time, only Jamie Gittens has left the first-team squad, while the club’s transfer dealings have been measured and focused. The marquee summer signing, Jobe Bellingham, is expected to start at the Millerntor, and fans are eager to see if the younger Bellingham can carve out his own legacy in yellow and black. According to Get German Football News, "Jobe Bellingham is an excellent addition to the team, and the Englishman serves as a more complete profile than his older brother Jude – Jobe should start at the Millerntor on Saturday."
Still, Dortmund are not at full strength for this opener. Defensive stalwarts Niklas Süle, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Emre Can are sidelined with injuries, forcing the 20-year-old Filippo Mane into what will be his Bundesliga debut at center-back. Yan Couto and Julian Ryerson are available, having traveled with the squad, but Gio Reyna’s absence—due to a pending move to Gladbach—means Kovač must shuffle his options.
The attacking burden, as ever, falls on the shoulders of Serhou Guirassy. The Guinean striker was a revelation last season, netting 21 goals in 30 Bundesliga appearances and already opening his account this year with the decisive goal in the DFB Pokal victory over Rot-Weiss Essen. Guirassy is widely tipped as the man most likely to challenge Bayern’s Harry Kane for the league’s Golden Boot. As Get German Football News notes, "If there’s one player to challenge Harry Kane for the Bundesliga’s top scorer, it’s going to be the Borussia Dortmund forward. The Guinean is clinical inside the area and poses a constant threat." Supporting Guirassy are Maximilian Beier, who contributed eight goals last term, and playmaker Julian Brandt, whose creative spark yielded 52 chances created and 10 assists.
On the other side, St. Pauli are bracing for another season of grit and pragmatism. The Hamburg club narrowly avoided relegation last year, finishing just three points above the playoff spot. Their struggles were clear: St. Pauli were the Bundesliga’s lowest scorers, with a paltry 28 goals in 34 games, averaging just 0.8 goals per match. Yet, their defensive solidity kept them afloat—conceding only 41 goals, the second-best record in the league behind Bayern Munich.
Goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj was a standout, and much of St. Pauli’s hopes will again rest on his shoulders. "Although St. Pauli finished just three points above the relegation playoff, it wasn’t their defence that was problematic. It was their inability to convert chances. Defensively, St. Pauli were solid. In fact, Nikola Vasilj was one of the leading goalkeepers in the Bundesliga last season," Get German Football News observed. The defense-first approach of head coach Alexander Blessin—who masterminded several hard-fought draws and narrow wins—remains the club’s blueprint.
But there’s been change up front. St. Pauli lost Morgan Guilavogui and Elias Saad, both key attacking outlets, but have moved quickly to bolster their ranks with Andréas Hountondji and Ricky-Jade Jones. Oladapo Afolayan, who scored three times last season, and Danel Sinani, with two goals, will need to step up. Meanwhile, Emmanouil Saliakas, who created 25 chances in 31 games, will be tasked with providing the ammunition from wide areas.
Statistically, the gulf between the sides is stark. Dortmund ranked second in goals scored last season (2.1 per game), third in shots per game (12.4), and fourth in goal differential (+20). St. Pauli, in contrast, were 19th in goals scored and 13th in goal differential. Still, the Hamburg side’s ability to frustrate opponents—allowing just 1.2 goals per game, second best in the league—makes them a tricky customer, especially at home. Their passing percentage (84.8%) and crossing stats (612 crosses, 12th in the league) suggest a team that values structure and discipline over flair.
Recent history adds another layer of intrigue. Last season, St. Pauli nearly snatched a result at the Westfalenstadion, coming close to taking two points off Dortmund. That memory will fuel their belief, even as the odds are stacked against them. For Dortmund, it’s a reminder that no opening day fixture is a given, especially against a side with nothing to lose and everything to prove.
The Bundesliga, meanwhile, is enjoying a renaissance of sorts. With Bayern Munich setting the pace after an emphatic opening win against RB Leipzig and the return of major derbies thanks to the promotions of Cologne and Hamburg, fan interest is soaring. The league continues to innovate, introducing new technologies like corner flag cameras and real-time in-game stats, enhancing the experience for supporters both in the stadium and watching on ESPN+.
Looking ahead, both teams face a challenging run of fixtures. Dortmund will host Union Berlin and travel to Heidenheim in the coming weeks, while St. Pauli prepare for clashes against Hamburger SV and FC Augsburg. But for now, all eyes are on the Millerntor, where a new Bundesliga season begins with hope, expectation, and the promise of the unexpected.
As the opening whistle approaches, one thing’s for sure: whether it’s Dortmund’s star power or St. Pauli’s dogged resilience, the Bundesliga is poised for another thrilling ride. The action is set, the stakes are high, and the story of the 2025/26 season starts right here in Hamburg.
