"Cup" FC St. Pauli - Bor. M'Gladbach

The hope for better times are back at St. Pauli above all after the very good second half of last Season. They could transport it to this Season because they started well, with 4 Points out of 2 matches they did really well and they are aiming for more above all today. But on the other side the expectations from the fans are much higher due to their success recently what should be not the best way for the players. This put them maybe under some pressure and this is not what the players want and like. In this case Coach Lienen has to give them some arguments that they can play relaxed and easy as they did in the past.
The stadium is sold out and the opponent is a big one with Bor. M'Gladbach who ended on third place last Season and entered the Champions League. But Coach Favre has to replace some of his important guys because with Kruse and Kramer left much quality. They have to replace them but are they able to find the right players for this? This is also the first match for Gladbach under competitions term and they do not know how far they are already. Despite all this things they are a team who has the class to be in the top this season again. They have several players in back who can bring them back on big level. This time or this Season they want to do better as last one because they were eliminated in quarter final from Arminia Bielefeld, therefore Coach Favre claims to put all they focus and power in this game. The first real test for Gladbach.

Before the game Lienen is going to make some of understatement but this was the case already against KSC. He said both time that they are a real underdog and they must have a great day to beat Gladbach. In Karlsruher they won 2-1 and they played a real great match there, maybe with he fans in the back they can do the same at home against a bigger team from Gladbach. He wants to count on fast counter attacks and on a excellent defensive work to be ahead of the pressure from Gladbach. If they can produce as less mistakes as they can they are always able to hurt the opponents.
But they have some problems in defensive line with missing players. The first one is central back Sobiech and the next one is back wing Halstenberg. Both scored the goals against KSC and were the heros for the win there. Nevertheless they have some other players in their squad who must score the goals but they have now a problem in defensive which must be build new. For Sobiech can play youngster Ziereis who did this already some times last season. On the left back wing is Kalla back after injury and can take the place from Halstenberg now. Of course there are some more options but if they make to many changes and rotations it is hard to have an equal level form past games. Therefore Lienen makes the 2 changes and allow the rest of the starting lineup form Karlsruhe the next chance.