FC St. Pauli

Timo Schultz made just one change to the side that performed so well at SC Freiburg in the week. Manolis Saliakas returned from suspension, with Connor Metcalfe dropping to the bench.

With plenty at stake for bottom-of-the-table Bielefeld, it was a high-intensity affair from the off, but with the exception of an Adam Dźwigała header from a Marcel Hartel corner, there was little for either keeper to do in a nonetheless entertaining opening. That changed in the 19^th minute. After a quick transition into the opposition half, Lukas Daschner knocked the ball into the path of Hartel in the left channel. The midfielder went for goal, but was unable to get the better of Arminia keeper Martin Fraisl. Two minutes later, Afeez Aremu skewed a shot off target from distance and it remained 0-0.

The home side threatened for the first time on 25 minutes when a cross from the right slipped through to the far post. Former St. Pauli man Bastian Oczipka wasted no time getting a shot off, but it flew well over the crossbar. The Schultz XI continued to dictate the play but were unable to capitalise on their superiority, as in the 32^nd minute when Etienne Amenyido narrowly failed to get on the end of a ball in from Jackson Irvine. Bielefeld gradually edged their way back into it, but neither side was able to gain the upper hand and the first half ended goalless.

Bielefeld celebrate

The two teams emerged unchanged for the second period. Bielefeld hit the ground running and began to make a game of it, but chances remained a rarity at both ends. A Hartel effort from range and a shot from Hack around the hour mark were the only attempts of note.

Yet then came the 76^th minute. Hartel lost possession in midfield, allowing Bielefeld to break quickly and send Janni Serra clean through on Nikola Vasilj. The striker kept a cool head and slotted into the far corner to give his side the lead. Soon after, it was almost 1-1 when Aremu dispatched a low ball into the middle for Irvine to steer towards goal, only to see the ball fly just past the left-hand upright.

The home side put the game to bed six minutes from time, however, when Serra was perfectly placed to head a cross from substitute Christian Gebauer past Vasilj to double the home side’s advantage. The Schultz XI tried desperately to salvage a point in the closing stages but had no joy and it ended 2-0 to Arminia Bielefeld.

Arminia Bielefeld

Fraisl – Klünter (Gebauer 68’), Hüsing, Andrade, Oczipka – Consbruch (Lasme 68’), Lepinjica - Hack (Ramos 90’+1), Rzatkowski (Prietl 90’+1), Okugawa, Klos (Serra 59’)

Head coach: Daniel Scherning

FC St. Pauli

Vasilj -  Saliakas, Dźwigała (Ritzka 81’),Smith, Fazliji, Paqarada - Aremu (Metcalfe 81’), Irvine (88’), Hartel - Daschner (Matanović  81’), Amenyido (Otto 64’)

Head coach: Timo Schultz

Goals: 1-0 Serra (76’), 2-0 Serra (84’)

Yellow cards: Lepinjica – Irvine, Smith

Referee: Benjamin Cortuns

Fans: 21,000