Spotlight on St. Pauli: SVE facing challenge

SV Elversberg are heading to Hamburg on Sunday to line up against table leaders St. Pauli. Horst Steffen’s team can expect a tough challenge.

Last weekend’s game against Magdeburg has been worked through and this match allowed the team to regain the stability it had lost. Next, the aim is to regain their offensive ease. The task could not be more daunting, as St. Pauli are awaiting SV Elversberg at Millentor stadium.

Elversberg’s coach Horst Steffen was full of praise for their Hamburg opponents in conversation with ‘Regionalsport’: ‘The team have been playing very consistent, mature football throughout the season. They deserve their spot at the top of the table’, he noted. ‘St. Pauli’s players are in general top-quality as individuals. The return of Smith and Metcalfe has of course strengthened their overall quality on the pitch. The team are very well-organised and clear in possession of the ball and are extremely strong.’ SVE will therefore need to focus strongly on the task at hand on Sunday. However, FC St. Pauli’s showpiece is their defence – the best in the second division. 28 goals conceded in 28 matches is an impressive feat: by comparison, SVE have conceded 48.

However, Hamburg also have great respect for SV Elversberg: ‘We absolutely must not be fooled by their recent results’, Fabian Hürzeler explains.
Gaining a point in Hamburg would be an important step forwards in SVE’s efforts to remain in the league.