Leipzig looking to extend 14-game unbeaten run as St. Pauli clash looms.

FC St. Pauli vs. RB Leipzig kicks off at 18:30 [GMT+1] on Sunday, September 22, at Millerntor-Stadion.

While former boss Fabian Hürzeler dazzles in the Premier League following his summer move to Brighton, newly promoted St. Pauli have endured a difficult start to their return to the topflight under new manager Alexander Blessin. The Kiezkicker have lost all three league games [LLL] so far this season, with the latest being a 3-1 defeat against Augsburg last Sunday. After trailing by two goals in the second half, Carlo Boukhalfa’s goal [74’] in his first start in two years served only as a consolation as St. Pauli conceded a third in stoppage time, extending their losing streak to three. One of just three teams yet to secure a point in the Bundesliga this season, Blessin’s men find themselves in the bottom two, only above Bundesliga debutants Holstein Kiel, who have an inferior GD. They will now hope for a change in fortunes when they welcome Leipzig to the Millerntor-Stadion this Sunday, as they look to put an end to their unpleasant run of form. Recent success against the visitors provides confidence going into Sunday’s encounter. St. Pauli have won their last three games against Leipzig in all competitions, keeping clean sheets in all. However, the hosts have lost 14 out of their last 15 Bundesliga games across multiple seasons [0W, 1D, & 14L], including each of the last seven. A 3—5—2 could be seen against Leipzig, with Johannes Eggestein and Oladapo Afolayan in attack.

Leipzig are coming off a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat against Atlético Madrid in their Champions League opener in midweek. Marco Rose’s men had taken an early lead via Benjamin Šeško [4’] but were pegged back two minutes before the half-hour mark after Antoine Griezmann’s strike [28’]. Just when it looked like the Red Bulls were going to earn at least a point, a José María Giménez stoppage time header [90’] dealt a devastating blow, ending the game in dramatic fashion. ‘We play again on Sunday,’ Rose said after the loss. We don't have a lot of time to dwell on it,’ he added, shifting focus to this weekend’s league encounter with St Pauli. Leipzig will aim to bounce back from their recent setbacks, having played out a goalless draw in their last league game against Union Berlin. Currently third on the league table, the Red Bulls will look to secure maximum points this weekend. While Leipzig are on a 14-game unbeaten streak in the Bundesliga [9W, 5D, & 0L], they could equal their record of 15 games without a league loss should they avoid defeat. Loïs Openda is expected to start in attack when Rose lays out the 3—4—2—1.