A top-of-the-table clash between St Pauli and Hoffenheim four years ago would only have interested fans of the third tier of German football, but now the two clubs are vying for supremacy in the Bundesliga.
Hoffenheim marched from the third division to the Bundesliga in just two years while St Pauli have climbed up the two divisions in the last three seasons.
After emphatic wins on the opening day of the season - Hoffenheim thrashed Werder Bremen 4-1 and Pauli defeated Freiburg 3-1 - the two clubs now find themselves at the top of the very highest level of football in Germany and meeting at the Millerntor stadion tomorrow for outright superiority.
"I think the philosophies of the two clubs are very similar,'' said Hoffenheim owner Dietmar Hopp on the St Pauli website.
"Therefore, I really like St Pauli. Of course Hoffenheim have it easier with the finances, but our aims are identical.''
Hoffenheim coach Ralf Rangnick is not reading anything into the league table just yet.
"After just one game of the season, it does not really tell you much,'' he said. "Nevertheless, we are happy to have started well and that we can go into this game without any pressure.''
His St Pauli counterpart Holger Stanislawski was similarly realistic about his side's current league position.
"We are not going to be playing for top spot very often this season after this,'' he said.
Sebastian Rudy could make his debut for Hoffenheim after signing from Stuttgart this week, although Rangnick admits he does not want to rush him into his first game.
"We have spent the first few days getting to know each other and, ideally, he would be ready for a place in the squad, but it is possible that we wait until the Schalke game before considering him,'' he said.
There will be an international break of a fortnight after tomorrow's game and that will give Rudy enough time to settle into his new surroundings while it could also be a good time for Hoffenheim to sign another player before the transfer deadline.
"We have our eye on a few players and we will see if anything develops,'' he added.
Credit: Soccernet.com
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