Levi Rothermund
This July friendly brings together two clubs at very different points in their pre-season campaigns. St. Pauli arrive in strong shape, having won all three of their July fixtures and scoring 13 goals in the process. Gorica, coached by Mario Carevic, are not without confidence either — they won two of their last three matches and head into this game off the back of a 1-0 win over Epitsentr. The Croatian side has shown they can grind out results, but facing a German side ranked significantly higher in the global club standings will be a different test entirely. One interesting angle here: St. Pauli’s attack has been relentless this month, netting goals in bunches against lower-ranked opposition, and Gorica’s defensive record in July has been inconsistent — they conceded twice against both Goztepe and Rijeka in recent outings.
For St. Pauli, keep an eye on their attacking output under Jeff Strasser, who has his side playing with real intensity in the final third — six goals against Altona alone signals a team in clinical form. On the Gorica side, their best individual performances have come when the team presses high and transitions quickly, as shown in the win over Zorya. Any player who can maintain that energy and link play between midfield and attack will be key to keeping this competitive.
Hot stat: St. Pauli scored 13 goals across just three July friendly matches — an average of 4.3 per game — making them one of the most prolific sides in this entire phase of the tournament standings.
| 🏆 Tournament: | International Club Friendly 2026 – July Phase |
| 🗓️ Date: | 19.07.2026 |
| ⏰ Time: | 16:00 CEST |
Gorica vs St. Pauli Prediction
St. Pauli are the clear favourites here. They are unbeaten in July, have scored freely against a range of opponents, and carry considerably more depth and quality than a Gorica side still finding its footing in the friendly calendar. Gorica’s only win this month came against Epitsentr, who sit near the bottom of the standings, and their two other July results ended in defeats — including a 0-2 loss to Goztepe. St. Pauli, by contrast, beat Babelsberg 4-1 and Emden 3-1 before dismantling Altona 6-2.
We think an St. Pauli win is the most straightforward call on this card. The gap in current form and overall squad quality is hard to ignore. Gorica may manage to create a chance or two given their direct style, but sustaining any kind of defensive shape against a side averaging over four goals per game in July seems unlikely.
St. Pauli’s approach involves a high-tempo, forward-pressing game. Their foul count and aggression in midfield tends to disrupt opponents early, and in friendlies this often translates into early goals that set the tone. Gorica, for their part, are not a passive side — they commit fouls to break up play and rely on set-piece moments. That physical approach could generate a few yellow cards and free kicks in dangerous areas, but it is unlikely to be enough to change the outcome.
| 🔥Hot Tip: | St. Pauli to score in both halves |
| ⚽Total Goals: | Over 2.5 |
| 💥Both Teams To Score: | Yes |
| 🎯Total Corners: | Over 7.5 |
Team Analysis
Gorica have had a mixed July. Their best result was a 2-1 win over Zorya, and they followed that with a 1-0 victory over Epitsentr in their most recent outing. Both opponents, however, sit in the lower half of the friendly standings. The losses to Goztepe (0-2) and Rijeka (0-2) earlier in the season show that when the quality steps up, Gorica have struggled to keep things tight at the back. Their year-to-date win rate of 42% from 26 matches tells a story of a team capable of beating sides around their level but prone to difficulty when the gap in class widens. Carevic’s side appears most dangerous when pressing from the front and winning the ball high up the pitch — a tactic that worked against Zorya but was neutralised by better-organised opponents.
St. Pauli have been the standout side in this July phase. Jeff Strasser has them playing with an aggressive, high-pressing structure, and the results have been emphatic. The 6-2 win over Altona was the headline, but their 4-1 defeat of Babelsberg and 3-1 victory over Emden confirm this is a team in excellent rhythm. What is particularly notable is the variety in their goalscoring — they are not relying on a single source of goals, which suggests the whole attacking unit is functioning well. Earlier in the year they did lose to both Wolfsburg and RB Leipzig, which shows there is a ceiling to their level, but against Gorica’s defensive setup, those losses are not relevant here. Their last 30 days record of three wins from three games, with a 100% win rate, is the best of any team entering this fixture.
🚨Check out our dedicated Gorica vs St. Pauli stats page for more info.
Gorica. Source: Official Website
Without published odds, we lean on form alone. St. Pauli’s dominant July record and scoring volume make them strong favourites. Honestly, even at short prices, backing St. Pauli to win and the game to go over 2.5 goals feels like the most defensible position given the evidence. Gorica have scored in each of their last three outings, so both teams to score carries some merit too — particularly if Gorica can get in behind early before St. Pauli assert control.
🏅Tips.GG premium subscription brings you even closer to WIN!🏅
- Gain access to the most profitable bets by using our analysis of over 60,000 monthly predictions from 1000+ sources.
- Premium users enjoy predictions from tipsters with the highest win rate while also gaining access to favorable odds, outcome calculation, and quick filter to favorable odds.
- Unlock the “Golden Bet” – our unique formula for the best high-odd betting opportunities! Get detailed reports on our system’s performance, including Winrate, ROI, and Yield.
St. Pauli. Source: Official Website
TipsGG Match Prediction
St. Pauli are the team to back here. Three wins from three in July, 13 goals scored, and a clearly functioning attacking system under Jeff Strasser — the numbers point firmly in one direction. Gorica have shown they can win games, but their two losses this month both came by a 0-2 scoreline against opponents ranked similarly to St. Pauli, and the German side has a noticeably higher ceiling in terms of squad quality.
We think St. Pauli win comfortably. The most likely scenario is a multi-goal margin, with St. Pauli scoring in both halves and Gorica potentially grabbing a consolation. Over 2.5 goals looks like the most reliable market, and St. Pauli to win is the headline call. If you want a slightly higher-odds option, St. Pauli to score in both halves is worth considering given how consistently they have done exactly that across all three July fixtures.
- Match result: St. Pauli win
- Total goals: Over 2.5
- Both teams to score: Yes
- Hot tip: St. Pauli to score in both halves
