FC St. Pauli

Dangerman Klos

Fabian Klos joined Arminia Bielefeld in the 2011/12 season. Since then, the burly striker has scored 115 goals in 268 appearances (43 in the second division, 53 in the third, and the rest in the DFB Cup and regional Westphalia Cup). Two of those 43 second-division goals have come against the Boys in Brown, by the way. This season, his tally has increased by the same number. We would have no objections if that were to remain unchanged on Sunday.

Painful cup exit

While the Boys in Brown were putting their feet up in midweek, there was no such luxury for their opponents. Jeff Saibene's side were given a tough examination by MSV Duisburg in the second round of the DFB Cup on Wednesday evening. Any hopes Bielefeld had of a lucrative Round of 16 tie were dashed very quickly as the visitors raced into an early lead and eventually ran out 3-0 winners. "That was unacceptable for the fans today," a frustrated Fabian Klos said afterwards. "I would have gone at half-time. We all need to take a very close look at ourselves"

Win overdue

Sunday's encounter is a statistician's delight, it being Bielefeld's 500^th Bundesliga 2 fixture since it became a single division and their 250^th home game. Unsurprisingly, the Boys in Brown have been regular visitors to the Alm, yet they haven't won there since August 1996, a 2-1 success under then coach Uli Maslo. Jens Scharping (assist: Thomas Sobotzik) and Bernd Eigner (assist: Carsten Pröpper) got on the scoresheet that day.

Leaky defence

Bielefeld's rearguard may have been their main strength last season but it's been a very different story this term. Goalkeeper Stefan Ortega has celebrated just one shutout so far, a scoreless draw at Magdeburg on 17 September. Arminia have been very vulnerable at the back, especially at home, where they have conceded three times in three of their four outings. Their total of 11 goals against at home – one they share with table-toppers FC Cologne incidentally – is the worst in the league.

Photo: Witters