FC Bayern Munich demonstrated resilience by securing a 3:2 victory against FC St. Pauli, maintaining a six-point lead in the Bundesliga. Harry Kane opened the scoring, followed by St. Pauli’s equalizer from Elias Saad. Leroy Sané scored twice, restoring Bayern’s lead, but a late goal from Lars Ritzka added tension. Despite injuries and a late scare, Bayern held on for the win. Next, Bayern faces FC Augsburg, while St. Pauli will host Borussia Mönchengladbach.
FC Bayern Munich Holds Strong Against FC St. Pauli
FC Bayern Munich showcased resilience following Bayer Leverkusen’s latest win in the Bundesliga. Despite a thrilling finish against FC St. Pauli, the Munich squad secured a 3:2 victory, maintaining their six-point lead after the 27th matchday.
Harry Kane set the tone early by scoring in the 16th minute, giving Bayern a strong start on Saturday. However, the match took an exciting turn when Elias Saad equalized for St. Pauli in the 27th minute. Leroy Sané quickly responded with two goals in the second half (53rd and 71st minutes), putting Bayern back in control. A late goal from Lars Ritzka in stoppage time (90+3) added tension, but Bayern held on for the win.
Coaches Reflect on the Match
After facing setbacks against Bochum (2:3) and Union Berlin (1:1), Bayern coach Vincent Kompany expressed satisfaction, stating, “Now it’s about the victories.” Meanwhile, St. Pauli, currently in 15th place with 25 points, finds itself in a precarious position in the relegation battle. Coach Alexander Blessin acknowledged the mixed emotions in his post-match interview, noting, “We played a really, really good game. But we also gave away three gifts.”
Bayern Munich set an aggressive tone from the beginning, with Eric Dier and Raphael Guerreiro stepping in for the injured Dayot Upamecano and Alphonso Davies. Just 55 seconds into the match, Leon Goretzka created an opportunity, but St. Pauli’s goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj thwarted his header. St. Pauli, while defensive, was not passive; they tested Bayern’s substitute goalkeeper Jonas Urbig early on.
The turning point came when Jamal Musiala capitalized on a mistake from St. Pauli’s Siebe van der Heyden, assisting Kane for a well-placed shot into the bottom corner, marking Kane’s goal against yet another Bundesliga opponent. However, St. Pauli responded with a free-kick opportunity, leading to Saad’s equalizer, leaving Bayern to regroup before halftime.
In the second half, Bayern regained momentum quickly. A well-placed pass from Olise found Sané, who scored with precision, followed by another goal from Sané shortly after, extending Bayern’s lead to 3:1. As the match progressed, St. Pauli struggled to regain their foothold, and Bayern maintained control until late chaos ensued.
Near the end, injury struck again as Hiroki Ito, just back from a serious injury, had to leave the field, leaving Bayern with ten players. St. Pauli seized the moment, with Ritzka scoring from distance, making it 3:2 and creating a nail-biting finish. However, Bayern held firm and celebrated their victory.
Looking ahead, Bayern will face FC Augsburg on Friday evening (April 4, 2025) at 20:30, while St. Pauli will host Borussia Mönchengladbach on Sunday (April 6, 15:30) at Millerntor.