Borussia Dortmund continued their resurgence with a 2-0 victory over FC St. Pauli on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Millerntor-Stadion. This win marks Dortmund's second consecutive victory, generating much-needed confidence as they prepare for their Champions League knockout stage matchup against OSC Lille on Tuesday.
Initially, Dortmund struggled to find their rhythm, facing an equally determined St. Pauli side. The first half saw few clear chances for the visitors, as the organized defense of St. Pauli and the agility of their forward Noah Weißhaupt shackled Dortmund’s attackers. Despite their efforts, the guests remained largely stagnant until the halftime break.
Niko Kovac, Dortmund’s head coach who is striving to establish back-to-back wins for the first time, challenged his players to turn the tide. "Wir müssen von Beginn an Gas geben," he proclaimed before the match, emphasizing the need for urgency. Yet, St. Pauli controlled large stretches of the first half, with their captain Jackson Irvine threatening the goal, but Dortmund’s defense held firm.
Upon returning from the break, Dortmund surged back to life. Just five minutes had passed when Karim Adeyemi capitalized on St. Pauli's defensive lapse. The powerful forward skillfully controlled the ball near the penalty area, setting up teammate Serhou Guirassy for the opener. Guirassy, showing his poacher's instinct, slid the ball past the helpless FC St. Pauli goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj.
Less than ten minutes later, Adeyemi himself found the scoresheet, showcasing exceptional individual talent as he sprinted nearly the length of the pitch before clinically slotting the ball home. His 58th-minute effort was the culmination of brilliant teamwork and individual prowess, sealing the game for Dortmund.
"St. Pauli was very aggressive and wanted to hurt us with quick counter-attacks," said Kovac after the game. The 2-0 lead allowed Dortmund to shift gameplay to conserve energy for their busy week ahead, resting key players like Julian Brandt, who came on late in the match after returning from injury.
Nico Schlotterbeck expressed relief after the match, stating, "Wir haben die gesamte Saison auf den zweiten Sieg hintereinander hingearbeitet. Wir haben zu Null gespielt, das ist das Wichtigste heute." The defender highlighted the importance of not only the victory but also the clean sheet they achieved—Dortmund’s first of the season.
St. Pauli, on the other hand, fell to their fourth consecutive loss, remaining perilously close to the relegation zone, sitting 15th in the league. Their coach Alexander Blessin lamented the inability to convert possession and said, "We have chances; we just have to score them." His team managed to create opportunities, yet the final product remained elusive, marking 400 minutes without scoring.
The atmosphere was electric, with 29,546 fans witnessing the clash. Dortmund’s ability to adapt and control the tempo after the halftime adjustment provided the clarity needed for their gameplay. With goals from Guirassy and Adeyemi, the visitors showed not only attacking flair but organizational strength as well.
The potential of this squad is reshaping as they prepare for their Champions League campaign. Following the victory, they maintain their pursuit of European competition, sitting 10th but now holding close ties to the European qualification spots.
This win has bolstered confidence within the squad. Dortmund now looks to build on this momentum as they approach crunch time both domestically and on the continent. Their next test will be against OSC Lille, as they aim to capitalize on the performance showcased against St. Pauli. The viewers are left speculating whether the Black and Yellows can channel this form and return to the heights they aspire to, or if their inconsistency will haunt them again.
Fans will await with bated breath, hoping the victory at Millerntor is just the beginning of change under Kovac’s stewardship.