FC St. Pauli faces a top-of-the-table clash against VfL Wolfsburg amid clear criticism from coach Marcel Rapp. Following a 2-2 draw at Arminia Bielefeld and a 1-2 home defeat to 1. FC Kaiserslautern, the coach analyzed his team's mistakes as they sit 14th in the 2. Bundesliga with three points from four matches.
What mistakes are annoying coach Marcel Rapp?
Marcel Rapp criticized the poor start to both halves after the draw in Bielefeld. His team had to chase a deficit twice. "We start both halves extremely poorly," said the 47-year-old. One goal was due to an individual error, the other to an unacceptable set-piece situation. Rapp also lamented a lack of threat in front of goal despite good control of possession. His team broke through well on the wings but were not well positioned in the box. That was a major issue. The coach stressed the players were handling the situation well and kept fighting but expressed dissatisfaction with the frequency of simple conceded goals.
How did the defeat against Kaiserslautern unfold?
The loss to Kaiserslautern highlighted these problems. Despite a good start and dominance, St. Pauli lost 1-2 at the Millerntor. Erencan Yardımcı put the visitors ahead in the 30th minute. After the break, Thierry Tazemeta made it 0-2. Abdoulie Ceesay pulled one back eight minutes after coming on as a substitute, but an equalizer did not materialize. Goalkeeper Julian Krahl made several strong saves for Kaiserslautern, denying the Boys in Brown on multiple occasions. Torsten Lieberknecht's team defended compactly in the final phase to secure the away win. For St. Pauli, it was their first home defeat of the season and a setback in the promotion race, where they already trail leaders 1. FC Nürnberg by seven points.
How did St. Pauli earn the point in Bielefeld?
The 2-2 draw in Bielefeld last Friday was detailed. Jannik Rochelt put Arminia ahead in the 13th minute. Taichi Hara equalized seven minutes later following an assist from David Nemeth. After halftime, Joel Grodowski scored to make it 2-1 for the hosts. Abdoulie Ceesay secured the second equalizer in the 65th minute with a spectacular backheel flick. The goal stood after a brief VAR check. Both teams searched in vain for a winner afterwards. With six goals scored and seven conceded, St. Pauli has a negative goal difference after four matchdays.
What does this mean for the match against Wolfsburg?
The next fixture presents a significant challenge. On Saturday evening (20:30), St. Pauli hosts VfL Wolfsburg, who are currently third in the table. Marcel Rapp predicted: "Against Wolfsburg, that will be a tough nut to crack." The second-division heavyweight boasts a far more expensively assembled squad. Rapp, however, trusts in home strength at the Millerntor. "We are playing at home at the Millerntor and are capable of beating them," said the coach. Preparation this week focuses on becoming more dangerous in front of goal and eliminating individual errors. Each player receives an individual video analysis after every match for this purpose. The current standings and upcoming fixtures underscore the urgency to collect points. The home game against Wolfsburg on September 12, 2026, is the next opportunity to do so.
