St. Pauli finally put an end to their negative series with a much-needed win in the German Cup, but the real issue remains their Bundesliga form. Eight consecutive league defeats have pushed them deep into trouble, and the question now is whether that Cup success can inject enough confidence for improvement in Cologne.
The hosts can’t win either
Köln began the season at a respectable level, yet over the past weeks their form has sharply deteriorated, dragging them toward the bottom of the table. Wins have completely dried up, and their attacking output has been inconsistent. Still, this matchup arrives at a convenient moment - St. Pauli’s disastrous league run suggests that Köln may finally have found a suitable opponent against whom to break their own streak without victory. The visitors, however, can draw some optimism from their last two away performances. Despite losing, they competed well against Bayern Munich and Borussia Mönchengladbach, showing signs that their collapse may be slowing.
Prediction: Home to win
Both teams are searching for a turning point, but Köln’s home advantage and St. Pauli’s ongoing struggles in the league suggest that the hosts are in the better position to take all three points.
