FC St. Pauli celebrated on Saturday at the Karl‑Liebknecht‑Stadium with their third friendly win, as Abdoulie Ceesay netted a perfect hat‑trick within 22 minutes, leading the team to a 4‑1 victory. Despite currently sitting 18th in the Bundesliga with 26 points, the squad remains hopeful.

What happened in the friendly?

The visit to SV Babelsberg 03 opened with a quick strike: after six minutes Ceesay capitalised on a keeper error to make it 1‑0. In the 21st minute he headed a cross from Arkadiusz Pyrka to double the lead. The third goal arrived just seven minutes later when Ricky‑Jade Jones delivered a low pass and Ceesay finished directly (28').

Why does the result matter for FC St. Pauli?

The win not only boosts confidence but also gives coach Marcel Rapp valuable insights, as he swapped almost the entire lineup at halftime. Only Martijn Kaars stayed on the pitch and added the fourth goal in the 59th minute, sealing the final score. In a season marked by a 6W‑8D‑20L record and a -31 goal difference (29 scored, 60 conceded), such a performance offers a glimmer of hope for upcoming league matches.

How does this affect the next phase?

Looking ahead to the next league fixture against Hannover 96 (away, 2026‑10‑17), the friendly provides crucial momentum for the attack. Ceesay's hat‑trick shows the potential to improve scoring in key moments – essential given the 63‑point gap to Bayern München. The sold‑out crowd of 10,787 also underlines continued fan support.

What lessons does the coaching staff draw?

Marcel Rapp praised the efficiency of his forwards, especially Ceesay, while stressing the need to tighten the defence after Tobias Hasse scored the lone concession in the 32nd minute. The bench used the match to test several players, including young goalkeeper Ben Voll. The data gathered will be analysed in training to sharpen the team's form curve and climb the league table.