Paderborn
After winning promotion via the playoff, Paderborn have made a sluggish start to their first Bundesliga campaign since 2019-20. Ralf Kettemann’s charges took just one point from their first three outings before they claimed a much-needed 3-1 victory over Hoffenheim. However, they have failed to build upon that result, losing 2-0 to Stuttgart in their first game back from the international break before playing out a 2-2 scoreline in their recent away clash with Werder Bremen.
Paderborn appeared to be on course for all three points at the Weserstadion after Stefano Marino and Steffen Tigges grabbed a goal apiece in the first period. However, a Niclas Füllkrugbrace inside the first 20 minutes of the second half forced Paderborn to settle for a share of the spoils, leaving them in the relegation playoff spot.
They now face a busy period, with league games against Hamburg and Borussia Mönchengladbach on either side of a DFB-Pokal clash with Stuttgart, all before the end of the month. Kettermann’s side may fancy their chances of starting that run of fixtures with a win, having prevailed in three of their last four meetings with Hamburg, including a 2-0 success in their most recent encounter in the 2.Bundesliga in March 2025.
Team News
Sebastian Klaas and Nyamekye Awortwie-Grant have returned to training, but the pair are not ready to return to competitive action just yet. The hosts are also without the services of Oliver Batista Meier, Timur Gayret and Marcel Hoffmeier.
Click here to see Paderborn's predicted lineup for this contest.
Hamburg
Hamburg’s first six Bundesliga matches can be described as a tale of two halves. Merlin Polzin’s side made a disastrous start to the season, losing their first three matches by a combined 12-0 scoreline. But, to their credit, they have shown great character to get their campaign officially up and running with three consecutive victories.
That impressive run of results started with a 2-1 victory against FC Köln at the Volksparkstadion, before they staged a late turnaround to pull off a 3-2 win in their away meeting with Hoffenheim. There was more late drama when Miro Muheim snatched all three points with an 88th-minute winner in last Saturday’s 1-0 home win over Stuttgart, a result that ended the club’s wait for their first clean sheet of the Bundesliga season.
Having now put nine points on the board, Hamburg head into matchday seven in ninth spot and just a point adrift of the top six. If they are to add three points to their tally on Sunday, die Rothosen will need to beat Paderborn for the first time since claiming a 3-2 away win in October 2022.
Team News
Hamburg are unable to call upon midfielder Nicolai Remberg, who is likely to miss the rest of the season after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury earlier this month.
Click here to see Hamburg's predicted lineup for this contest.