2. Bundesliga preview: Energie Cottbus vs. St. Pauli | OneFootball

Energie Cottbus host St. Pauli at the LEAG Energie Stadion on Sunday afternoon, with both sides seeking to extend improved form. As reported by BuLi News, both arrive with renewed confidence after testing spells.

Back in the 2. Bundesliga after 12 years, Cottbus opened by beating Hannover 96 3-1, then lost 0-3 at Arminia Bielefeld and 3-4 to Greuther Fürth. They fought back for a 4-4 at Wolfsburg before winning 3-0 at Karlsruher SC.

Claus-Dieter Wollitz’s team are seventh with seven points from five games, scoring 13 and conceding 12. He wants their front-foot approach maintained against visitors he views as quick, varied and physical.

Relegated last term, St. Pauli drew 1-1 with Greuther Fürth and 2-2 at Holstein Kiel, then lost 1-2 to Kaiserslautern. A 2-2 at Arminia Bielefeld preceded their first league win, 1-0 over Wolfsburg through Joel Chima Fujita.

Marcel Rapp expects a heated afternoon in Brandenburg but says his players can handle it with strong travelling support. The clubs have not met since April 2014.

Team news: Cottbus are near full strength, though Erik Engelhardt and Julian Guttau remain out. For St. Pauli, Eric Smith and Connor Metcalfe should retain places, with Branimir Hrgota, Marcus Mathisen and Tomoya Ando back, while Mathias Pereira Lage and Gísli Thórdarson are sidelined.

Predicted formations: Cottbus 4-2-3-1, St. Pauli 3-4-2-1.

Source: BuLi News

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