Wolfsburg kept their Bundesliga status alive with a 3-1 victory at Millerntor-Stadion, a result that condemned St. Pauli to automatic relegation. Dieter Hecking’s side only required a draw to secure a relegation playoff spot, yet Wolfsburg claimed all three points and extended St. Pauli’s winless struggle.
The match opened with St. Pauli pushing hard, as Joel Chima Fujita smashed a shot against the frame of the goal during an early spell of pressure. Vinicius Souza also struck the post before Wolfsburg punished the hosts, making St. Pauli pay for those wasted chances.
Wolfsburg moved ahead in the 37th minute when Konstantinos Koulierakis converted Christian Eriksen’s corner, giving the visitors a crucial lead against St. Pauli. The set-piece goal
shifted momentum, and St. Pauli’s earlier threat faded as nerves around relegation increased among the home players and supporters.
St. Pauli responded after half-time and levelled 12 minutes into the second period. Substitute Abdoulie Ceesay met Connor Metcalfe’s cross with a firm header, briefly restoring belief in the home side. However, Wolfsburg struck again seven minutes later thanks to a major error from goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj.
Vasilj misjudged a cross and punched the ball into the net, gifting Wolfsburg a second goal. The referee initially ruled it out, but VAR overturned the decision and awarded the strike. Video review intervened again when Tomoya Ando handled in the area, yet Eriksen’s penalty crashed against the crossbar.
Despite that miss, Wolfsburg still found a third goal, as Dzenan Pejcinovic drilled a low finish to create a two-goal cushion and kill off St. Pauli’s fightback. The 3-1 win guaranteed Wolfsburg at least a relegation playoff against the third-placed side from the 2. Bundesliga.
| Team | Goals | xG | Shots on Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wolfsburg | 3 | 3.42 | 10 |
| St. Pauli | 1 | 1.47 | 2 |
Hecking had watched Wolfsburg generate 3.04 expected goals in the 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich, and again opted for an aggressive attacking setup. This time the approach matched the numbers, with Wolfsburg turning 3.42 xG into three goals, while containing St. Pauli to 1.47 xG and very few clear chances.
Eriksen’s display underpinned Wolfsburg’s attacking control. The midfielder produced a game-best six chances created, took three shots and recorded 87 touches, fewer only than two team-mates. Wolfsburg also hit 10 shots on target and restricted St. Pauli to just two efforts on goal, underlining the visitors’ superiority.
FINAL With today's important victory, we move ahead to the relegation playoffs. Still work to be done this season but we have achieved the first step. Thank you for your support. ___ 1-3 #FCSPWOB#VfLWolfsburg pic.twitter.com/oNSvHertq3VfL Wolfsburg EN/US 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@VfLWolfsburg_EN) May 16, 2026
The result leaves St. Pauli facing life in the second tier after failing to avoid automatic relegation, despite periods of pressure and hitting the woodwork twice. Wolfsburg, by contrast, gained renewed hope, with the playoff still to come but the immediate target of survival in reach after a decisive performance.
