Judgement on Dortmund to be delayed by Kovac

Borussia Dortmund are gearing up for their next Bundesliga encounter against St. Pauli, a match that holds significant importance for the Yellow-Blacks. With an impressive unbeaten streak against the Hamburg-based club, Dortmund will be aiming to extend this record and secure another victory.

Serhou Guirassy, Dortmund's top scorer, has a chance to equal his personal record of six successive games with a goal. Guirassy, who ended last season on a five-match scoring spree, will be looking to continue his impressive form. In the last Bundesliga season, Guirassy scored 21 goals, second only to Bayern's Harry Kane.

St. Pauli, who finished 14th in their first campaign back in the Bundesliga in 2024-25, will be facing a tough challenge. The Opta win probability for St. Pauli is just 22.9%, while Dortmund's stands at 52.7%. It's worth noting that Dortmund has won 11 of their last 12 encounters against St. Pauli.

Dortmund's recent form has been impressive, with the team clinching Champions League qualification on the final day of the 2024-25 season. They have won five consecutive games to end the season, a streak that includes scoring at least three goals in each of their last five wins.

New signing Aaron Anselmino, who joined Dortmund on loan from Chelsea in the summer, is expected to make his Bundesliga debut. Anselmino, who has first division experience from his home country Argentina, will be looking to make an immediate impact.

St. Pauli, on the other hand, will be relying on their new signing, Mathias Pereira Lage, who joined from French club Brest. Lage, who scored 16 goals and provided 16 assists in 160 appearances in Ligue 1, is set to make his Bundesliga debut.

Despite their impressive form, Dortmund manager Niko Kovac has urged caution. He stated that he will not judge Dortmund's start to the Bundesliga season until six games have passed. This pragmatic approach is likely to keep the team focused and grounded as they prepare for the upcoming season.

While St. Pauli had the weakest attack in the Bundesliga last season, scoring 28 goals, they did have the second-fewest conceded, with 41 goals in 34 games. This suggests that they will pose a tough defensive challenge for Dortmund. However, Dortmund's current form, coupled with Guirassy's impressive goal-scoring run, makes them the favourites for this encounter.

As the season unfolds, both teams will be looking to build on their strengths and improve their weaknesses. This match promises to be an exciting encounter, with Dortmund aiming to continue their impressive run against St. Pauli.