2023-08-27 15:49:01
Despite a convincing performance, FC St. Pauli failed to score against 1. FC Magdeburg. So the FCSP has to settle for a goalless draw again.
(Cover photo: Peter Boehmer)
Three league games in a row without own goals. That was last in the 20/21 season between the seventh and ninth match day with defeats against KSC, Paderborn and Osnabrück. Three league games in a row without conceding a goal, there were three times in the last second half of the season alone. Three 0-0s in a row, hmm, someone will probably have rolled through the statistics books during the week (maybe we) and, if at all, will name a point in time deep in the past. What is certain, however, is that these three 0-0 results in a row result in a very difficult evaluation of the FCSP’s performance. And that’s how this game is to be seen: The FCSP was defensively safe, offensively the more dangerous team and would have deserved three points. Still, the frustration prevails.
The preparation
As expected, Andreas Albers made a starting eleven. He was replaced by Dapo Afolayan, who switched to the right-hand side of attack, displacing Connor Metcalfe from the starting XI. With David Nemeth there was another newcomer in the starting lineup. He replaced Adam Dźwigała in the position of left centre-back.
There was a change in the starting lineup at 1. FC Magdeburg: Tatsuya Ito replaced Jason Ceka. Both teams played with a back three, which was quite similar in terms of processes, but differed greatly in one point, the goalkeeping game, as Fabian Hürzeler emphasized before the game. In addition, the FCSP acted with a clear target player and offensive wing, while the FCM changed several times during the game.
Line-up for the game FC St. Pauli against 1. FC Magdeburg
High speed, clear match plans
Woah, the game was fast-paced and very interesting right from the start. The first moments of the game went to FC St. Pauli, who could have taken the lead directly. They showed the expected pattern, albeit with slight adjustments: Smith and Irvine consistently formed a double six when the FCSP had possession of the ball, but this was closely guarded by Schuler (at Smith) and Conde (at Irvine). Since the FCM also closely guarded everything else on the pitch, apart from the goalkeeper, there was a funny picture in the build-up game, for which the FCSP seemed prepared.
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Because with Andreas Albers starting, the FCSP was able to outplay this man-oriented style of play of the Magdeburg team, who played high, and thus often came up with dangerous actions through second balls. The offensive positioning of FC St. Pauli was quite clear: the two wingers drew wide, Hartel pushed forward and stood slightly behind Albers, who in turn expected the long shot.
Risky defensive behavior of the FCM
Personally, I have to get used to the crass man orientation of the Magdeburg team. If Hartel didn’t push up front, then the three Magdeburg central defenders were there against the three offensive players of the FCSP. This chain of three was also stretched enormously because Afolayan and Saad were literally scratching the outside line. All in all, the Magdeburg plan didn’t go so badly that the FCSP was able to succeed directly with a long ball and deep run from the outside position. The second balls were a problem for the FCM. And in addition, the FCSP still managed to come forward flat.
Differences in offensive play
FC St. Pauli had no problem with Magdeburg’s attacking style of play. The patterns of the guests were very similar to those of the FCSP, although they lacked the “exit option” in the first section because Schuler does not have the skills of Albers. Accordingly, the changeover took place after the break with the substitution of Luc Castaignos, who then gave the wall player. There were two other differences: While the FCSP acted with two clear offensive flanks, Baris Atik on the FCM side almost always moved into the central position, trying to create superior numbers there. In addition, goalkeeper Reimann often played the playmaker, but according to Titz, he rarely played the initial pass to the sixth position.
During the first half, 1. FC Magdeburg took control of the ball, but FCSP controlled the game. The Magdeburgers came increasingly dangerous in the last third of the FCSP, but these moments could all be defended there at the latest. FCM did not score a single shot on goal after 45 minutes. The FCSP thus managed to neutralize one of the most dangerous offensives in the league.
No, even in this situation, FC St. Pauli failed to score against 1. FC Magdeburg
(c) Peter Boehmer
Irvine more offensive = FCSP more dangerous
The strongest phase of FC St. Pauli followed with the kick-off of the second half. Jackson Irvine became a little more offensive when playing with the ball and moved up front much more often. In this phase, the FCSP played very safely through the back space and used the space available there very cleverly. The biggest point of criticism at the otherwise very convincing performance is that the FCSP didn’t manage to score in the first 15 minutes of the second period. On the other side it was also a bit more dangerous. In the 55th minute, Magdeburg shot at the FCSP goal for the first time. In the end there were 28:5 shots on goal in the books. I think these numbers reflect the balance of power very well.
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At the end more risk, but less goal risk
The longer the game lasted, the harder it was for FC St. Pauli to get close to the goal. This may be due to the fact that there was a lack of air after such intensive pressure phases at the end, but also because the FCM was now able to cope better. Christian Titz explained after the final whistle that he wanted to regain more control over the backfield by bringing in Silas Gnaka, which he felt was successful. Despite the slightly less goal threat towards the end: FC St. Pauli was also the better team in the last phase of the game and even risked a little more, for example when Smith pushed even higher and the rail players also looked more consistently for their way into the last third.
Satisfied, despite 0-0 – but the problem remains
Fabian Hürzeler explained at the press conference after the game that he assessed the game from two perspectives: On the one hand there was the defensive stability. Most of the time, his team managed not to let the offensively strong Magdeburg team develop. Only towards the end, when the FCSP opened up something to play even more for their own opening goal, were few dangerous situations allowed. On the other hand, his team managed to find playful solutions against the FCM and sometimes to come forward with the long ball.
So there were a lot of positive things to see in the game between FC St. Pauli and 1. FC Magdeburg, really a lot. The plan not to allow anything against a strong offensive Magdeburg and at the same time to get your own chances has worked completely. Nevertheless: FC St. Pauli did not manage to score a goal in the third league game in a row.
So this game report, which almost exclusively contains positive things, is certainly in stark contrast to what many feel – a separate article appears on the subject of “goallessness”, which is why it is not explicitly mentioned here. This point win against Magdeburg feels like a defeat because the FCSP again failed to reward themselves for a strong style of play. It’s good that it’s not the other way around. But it would be even better if one could have written about the fact that FC St. Pauli deservedly got three points.
Keep going!
// Tim
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