Two ex-Freiburg players fight for their place in St. Pauli’s starting eleven

He will probably be recovered in time to return to his hometown club. Robert Wagner missed the match against RB Leipzig because of tonsillitis – and that is exactly where the problem lies for the SC Freiburg loanee ahead of St. Pauli’s match in Breisgau.

The previously established midfielder, who was in the starting eleven in the DFB Cup in Halle as well as in the first three league games against Heidenheim, Berlin and Augsburg, will by no means be taken for granted that he will return to the starting line-up. This is partly due to the fact that the system modification made by coach Alexander Blessin means there is one less place in central midfield. And partly due to Carlo Boukhalfa.

Ironically, he also comes from the SC talent factory, was signed on a permanent basis two years ago and needed a long time to get going, now that the club has been promoted to the first division, to prove his importance to the local club. The 25-year-old celebrated his debut in the starting eleven in Augsburg, and like everyone else, he didn’t play a good first half, only to then improve – like everyone else – and reward himself with a goal.

Two former Freiburg players duel at St. Pauli

But it didn’t stop there. Boukhalfa was also given the vacant spot next to captain Jackson Irvine when St. Pauli played against RB with only two central midfielders instead of three. And he repaid the trust with his performance, seemed physically stable, eager to work and was an important stabilizer. Or to put it another way: There is actually no reason to take the Freiburg native out of the team in Freiburg.

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The third former SC player in Hamburg’s ranks doesn’t have to worry about his place at all. Philipp Treu, who was brought to the Kiez from the second team a good year ago, will definitely take up one of the two full-back positions, probably the left one, when he returns to his old stomping ground on Saturday.