Leverkusen came into today’s game in brilliant form, taking seven points from the last nine on offer, and the home side got off to an exceptional start here, netting twice inside 15 minutes.
First, Ernest Poku did well to drive into the box and stood the ball up into the danger area, where Jarell Quansah stood tall to nod onto the crossbar, but unfortunately for visitors’ stopper Nikola Vasilj, the ball ricocheted off the back of his leg and into his own net.
Just over 60 seconds later, Leverkusen doubled their lead after Patrik Schick raced through on goal, seeing his initial effort saved before Lucas Vazquez picked up the loose ball and clipped it to the back post for the Czech international to power home a header.
St. Pauli struggled to gain a foothold in the contest, with the away side failing to register a shot on target in the first half. Die Werkself had converted nine of their 10 half-time leads into wins this Bundesliga season (D1), and Kasper Hjulmand’s men looked like they were going to cruise to another victory here.
Kiezkicker boss Alexander Blessin’s half-time team talk no doubt would have included his players showing much more desire and keeping things tight following the restart.
Yet that went straight out the window when Leverkusen made it 3-0 less than seven minutes into the second half, as Aleix Garcia’s inswinging corner was powered home by Edmond Tapsoba’s header.
Three goals to the good, Hjulmand took the opportunity to rest key players ahead of their UEFA Champions League play-off tie against Olympiacos coming up on Wednesday
By the 75th minute, St. Pauli had failed to register a solitary shot on target, and with Leverkusen cruising, they added a fourth goal through Poku, who unleashed a bullet from outside the box with 12 minutes to play.
That goal capped off one of their most straightforward victories of the season, boosting their aspirations of a top-four finish despite their tumultuous start to the campaign, in which Erik ten Hag was sacked after just two league games.
Defeat for St. Pauli, and just one win in their last eight league games (D3, L4) leaves them in 17th, two points off the relegation playoff spot.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ernest Poku (Bayer Leverkusen)