Altona 93 vs FC St. Pauli

Rapp, taking charge of his first match since replacing the previous regime, sent St. Pauli out in a 3-5-2 formation. New signing Sam Klein and loan returnees Scott Banks and Erik Ahlstrand all started, while recent arrival Marcus Mathisen began on the bench.

St. Pauli controlled possession from the first whistle but lacked a cutting edge in the opening quarter-hour. The breakthrough came on 21 minutes: Klein's delivery was only partially cleared, and Banks — the Scottish winger on his return to the club — swept the loose ball home with his left foot, his shot taking a deflection off an Altona defender.

The lead doubled four minutes later. Banks turned provider with a dangerous cross that Altona defender Maximilian Addai could only help into his own net under pressure (25').

Altona refused to fold. A misplaced back-pass from Lars Ritzka gifted possession to former St. Pauli U23 forward Luis Jahraus, who kept his composure to slot past goalkeeper Simon Spari and make it 1-2 (28'). Then, from their first corner of the match, the hosts drew level: Michael Kobert rose unmarked to head home and spark wild celebrations among the 5,007 crowd (32').

The momentum swung back St. Pauli's way five minutes before half-time. Arkadiusz Pyrka collected the ball at the right corner of the box, cut inside onto his left foot and rifled a powerful strike beyond Tom Müller to restore the lead (40'). It stayed 3-2 at the break.

Rapp made near-total changes for the second half, keeping only Spari and Jannik Westphal on the pitch. The reshuffle did not disrupt rhythm. Within four minutes of the restart, Joel Chima Fujita slipped a pass through for compatriot Taichi Hara, who rounded Altona keeper Müller and finished calmly (49').

The game entered a quieter phase until the 77th minute, when Martijn Kaars received the ball at the edge of the box, shifted onto his left foot and saw his deflected shot loop over the goalkeeper and in for 5-2. Hara completed the scoring in the 89th minute, latching on to Rawley St. John's through-ball and beating the substitute goalkeeper Dennis Lohmann with a composed right-footed finish.

Altona's equaliser through Kobert (32') could have destabilised St. Pauli, but Pyrka's precise strike just before half-time restored the visitors' advantage and prevented any momentum from carrying into the interval. The third goal allowed Rapp to overhaul his entire outfield side at half-time without the pressure of chasing the game.

Taichi Hara – Two goals (49', 89') and a constant threat after coming on at half-time. His movement in behind the Altona defence was the difference in the second period.

Scott Banks – One goal (21'), one assist (own goal forced, 25'), and the most dangerous St. Pauli attacker in the first half before being withdrawn at the break.

Arkadiusz Pyrka – The left-footed strike from the edge of the box (40') was the technically best goal of the match and gave St. Pauli breathing room going into the dressing room.

Player of the match: Taichi Hara

The 6-2 scoreline tells a story of St. Pauli's superior quality and depth across the 90 minutes. Altona's two goals came from their only clear-cut chances — a defensive error and a set piece — highlighting the gap in structured play between a Regionalliga side and a 2. Bundesliga professional outfit.

St. Pauli scored eight minutes into each half (21' and 49'), suggesting a team that started both periods sharply. The 12-minute spell between Altona's 28th-minute leveller and Pyrka's 40th-minute response was the only phase where the underdogs genuinely threatened.

Rapp's willingness to change virtually the entire outfield side at half-time — only Spari and Westphal remained — without any drop-off in performance speaks to the squad depth St. Pauli are building for the 2. Bundesliga campaign ahead.

This was the first match of St. Pauli's 2026/27 pre-season, with the side preparing for life in the 2. Bundesliga after relegation from the top flight. Altona 93, meanwhile, begin their Oberliga Hamburg campaign after finishing bottom of the Regionalliga Nord last season.

St. Pauli's next friendly is yet to be announced, but the result provides a positive early indicator under Rapp's management. Altona will take encouragement from their first-half resilience but will need to address defensive vulnerabilities exposed against superior opposition.

A routine pre-season victory for St. Pauli, played in the context of a new manager, heavy rain and wholesale second-half changes. The 6-2 scoreline flattered neither side: St. Pauli were comfortably superior, while Altona showed enough heart in the first hour to suggest they can compete in the Oberliga after last season's relegation. Hara's double was the standout individual performance in a match that served its purpose — minutes in legs and no injuries for the visitors.