HAMBURG (Interstat) — Wolfsburg defeated St. Pauli 3-1 on Saturday at Millerntor-Stadion in a Bundesliga season opener, spoiling the home side’s return to top-flight action.

The visitors struck first in the 37th minute when substitute defender Konstantinos Koulierakis found the net, giving Wolfsburg a lead it never relinquished. St. Pauli equalized through forward Abdoulie Ceesay in the 57th minute, but Wolfsburg regained the advantage seven minutes later on a goal by goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj. Substitute Dženan Pejčinović added an insurance goal in the 80th minute.

Ceesay was the most influential player on the pitch, scoring once and adding an assist for St. Pauli. Vasilj’s goal from his own half was a rare moment of individual brilliance, while Pejčinović and Koulierakis each contributed a goal off the bench for Wolfsburg. St. Pauli’s Kento Shiogai and Joel Fujita each recorded an assist, as did Wolfsburg substitutes Vinícius Souza and Adam Daghim.

The match featured a flurry of bookings. Souza was cautioned in the 18th minute, Daghim in the 33rd, and Ceesay received a yellow card in the 88th. Deep into stoppage time, Shiogai was booked in the 90+4th minute and Fujita followed in the 90+5th.

Wolfsburg improved to 1-0-0 in Bundesliga play and across all competitions. St. Pauli dropped to 0-1-0 in both categories.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of St. Pauli 1, Wolfsburg 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected St. Pauli with a 71.80 percent probability to win.