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SCP Paderborn Paderborn - WOB Wolfsburg Wolfsburg

SCP

2

WOB

1

L. Curda
100'

Home Deluxe Arena(Sold out)

Felix Zwayer

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41 %Filip Bilbija

Filip Bilbija

0:26

Watch: Castañeda's delight

1:00

Watch: Paderborn celebrate promotion to the Bundesliga

Party in Paderborn

The fans have been allowed onto the pitch in a controlled manner to join the celebrations, and they likely won't stop all night.

© INA FASSBENDER

Paderborn will play in the Bundesliga next season

Paderborn are back in the Bundesliga for the first time since 2020.

© INA FASSBENDER

Wolfsburg relegated to Bundesliga 2

The Wolves have been relegated from the Bundesliga for the first time in their history. They were first promoted to Germany's top division in 1997.

© IMAGO/Ulrich Hufnagel

Full-time extra time: Paderborn 2-1 Wolfsburg (aggregate 2-1)

PADERBORN HAVE BEEN PROMOTED TO THE BUNDESLIGA!!! They've beaten Wolfsburg thanks to Curda's extra-time strike, and they will be back in Germany's top flight next season. Wolfsburg battled hard with 10 men, but Paderborn thoroughly deserved the win in the end.

© INA FASSBENDER

Full-time

Full-time

120'

+ 3

So close

Lindstrøm tries a dipping volley from the edge of the box, and he doesn't miss by much, but that will be that.

120'

+ 2

Yellow card

Konstantinos Koulierakis

120'

+ 1

Big chance for Shiogai

Shiogai gets up well again to head towards goal from the resulting corner, but his effort is straight at Seimen.

120'

Shiogai denied

The Japanese international leaps well in the centre and heads towards goal, but Seimen makes the save.

119'

Yellow card

115'

Two more Paderborn efforts

Michel gets forward on the counter and shoots from the angle, but narrowly misses the target. Castaneda then almost breaks through in the box, though his shot is blocked.

114'

Wolfsburg looking tired

The visitors gave so much to keep this game level with 10 men, and they are struggling to get forward for a potential equaliser.

113'

Paderborn deservedly ahead

The hosts have dominated this game, as can be seen on the shot counter.

Goal attempts

26off target

10on target

2off target

1on target

111'

Blazed over

Lindstrøm does well to battle for possession and finds Shiogai on the edge of the box. He has a go, but gets it horribly wrong.

106'

Wolfsburg changes

Amoura and Shiogai are on for defenders, Vavro and Kumbedi. The visitors have to go for it.

Kick-off!

Half-time extra time: Paderborn 2-1 Wolfsburg (agg 2-1)

Curda has put Paderborn on the verge of the Bundesliga. There are just 15 minutes for the Bundesliga 2 side to hold out now.

© IMAGO/Ulrich Hufnagel

105'

+ 3

Substitution

105'

+ 3

Substitution

Half-time

105'

+ 1

Added time

Two minutes of stoppage time before the next break.

102'

Another chance

Tigges almost gets in behind. The ball then drops for Bilbija, who curls a shot wide from the edge of the box.

Curda fires Paderborn in front

Paderborn work the ball down the left where Michel crosses. His delivery floats perfectly towards the back post, where Curda is waiting to volley into the far corner. Paderborn are within touching distance of a return to the Bundesliga...

© INA FASSBENDER

100'

Laurin Curda

GOAL!

2:1

Assist:Sven Michel

Laurin Curda

Goal probability

Goal probability

Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.

21 %

Shot speed

Shot speed

Shot speed describes the maximum speed in km/h that a ball reaches in a shot on goal. The distance is measured from the location of the shot to the centre of the goal.

83.89 km/h

Distance to Goal

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

10.34 m

99'

Substitution

98'

Substitution

98'

Substitution

Jesper Lindström

Dženan Pejčinović

96'

Castaneda heads over

The Paderborn man does well to meet Mohr's cross from the left, but he can't keep his header down.

94'

Looped over

Tigges gets up highest to head goalwards, but his shot has too much height on it, and the ball drops behind the goal.

92'

Great stop

Götze shoots from the edge of the box, and his effort takes a deflection off Souza that takes the ball towards the near post. Grabara is alert to the danger and springs across to make an excellent save.

91'

Extra time begins

Who will be the hero?

Extra time

Full-time: Paderborn 1-1 Wolfsburg (aggregate 1-1)

We go to extra time, neither side could find a winner, and so we'll have 30 extra minutes. How much energy do the 10 men of Wolfsburg have left?

© Christof Koepsel

End of second half

90'

+ 3

Wide

Baur tries his luck from the edge of the box, but slices his shot wide.

0:22

Off the post!

Curda sends in a good cross from the right that Michel does superbly to head towards the goal. However, he can't quite get the right direction on his effort, and the ball bounces clear off the post. Wolfsburg then scramble the ball clear.

90'

+ 1

Added time

Three minutes remaining for either side to find a breakthrough.

87'

Side-netting

Bilbija weaves his way into the box and shoots from the angle, but he can't squeeze his effort into the corner.

86'

Good block

Souza hammers a strike towards goal from range, and Götze throws himself in the way to stop the effort from becoming a danger.

83'

Another block, another corner

Hansen tries his luck from the edge of the box, and the ball deflects behind for yet another Paderborn corner. Again, though, Wolfsburg clear.

81'

First Wolfsburg change

Paredes is on for Svanberg. Can the American make the difference for his side?

81'

Substitution

Mattias Svanberg

0:18

Off the hand

Pejčinović stoops to head clear a cross, and his clearance strikes the outstretched hand of Eriksen. Not much the Dane could do about that one, and the referee waves away the Paderborn protests.

75'

Blocked

The ball drops to Tigges inside the box, and he sweeps a shot towards goal, but Vavro gets his body in the way at the last moment. Great defending.

74'

More changes

Two more substitutes for Paderborn as club captain Götze and Mohr enter the action in place of Müller and Brackelmann.

74'

Substitution

73'

Substitution

Calvin Brackelmann

70'

First changes of the night

A couple of attacking changes from Paderborn as Michel and Tigges are sent on for Marino and Klaas.

70'

Substitution

70'

Substitution

Sebastian Klaas

67'

A rare Wolfsburg attack

Kumbedi gets forward down the right a couple of times in quick succession, and both times Daghim is the one who nearly gets to the delivery, but to no avail as Paderborn clear.

65'

Fired over

Baur opts to go low with his latest corner and finds Müller on the edge of the box. He strikes the ball well, but there is too much height on the shot and the effort loops over the bar.

64'

Svanberg in the book

Svanberg becomes the latest player to pick up a yellow card as he stops a counter with a poor challenge.

64'

Yellow card

Mattias Svanberg

61'

Off the woodwork!

The ball drops to Klaas on the edge of the box, and he shoots with the outside of his right foot. The shot is goalbound, but it deflects off Vavro, and that small change of direction sends the ball bouncing clear off the post.

Firmly on top

Paderborn have dominated this game, but for now, it remains level.

© Christof Koepsel

59'

Another attempt

Baur hooks a shot towards goal, but he doesn't connect cleanly, and Grabara makes an easy save.

58'

Ambitious

Brackelmann lets fly from some 30 yards out, and it is an awkward one for Grabara. The goalkeeper has to be alert to get down and make the save.

56'

Big chance

Brackelmann bursts down the left and swings in a delicious cross right onto the head of Marino. He meets the ball well, but he can't get his effort on target from a great position. That was a real chance.

54'

Paderborn the dominant side

xGoals

The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).

At the moment, though, it remains level on aggregate.

xGoals

1

2.05

0.13

1

Goals

50'

Off the line!

Marino flicks on a corner at the near post, and the ball loops over Grabara and appears to be going in, but Belocian gets back at the last moment to clear. Klaas then drives towards goal from the rebound, and this time it is Eriksen who makes the block.

49'

Important block

Brackelmann has a go from the edge of the box, and Vavro needs to be alert to block behind for a corner. That could have been dangerous.

46'

Back underway

Which side will seal their place in the Bundesliga for next season?

Kick-off!

Half-time: Paderborn 1-1 Wolfsburg (agg 1-1)

After a fantastic start, where Pejčinović opened the scoring after just three minutes, Wolfsburg and Mæhle rather shot themselves in the foot. Mæhle picked up two yellow cards in quick succession, and since then, Paderborn have been on top. Eventually, Bilbija made that superiority count, and the Paderborn players will now be full of belief in front of their home fans.

© Christof Koepsel

Half-time

45'

Almost

Another Paderborn cross into the box, and this time Wolfsburg struggle to clear. The ball drops to Bilbija, but he can't quite get his shot away in time. Castaneda then has a go from the edge of the box a few moments later, but he can only hit the side-netting.

42'

Curda denied

Curda dips inside on his left and shoots from the edge of the box, aiming for the far corner, but Grabara is equal to the effort and makes the save.

0:16

Bilbija levels things up

Curda's long throw from the right is flicked on perfectly by Brackelmann, and Bilbija is there at the back post to stoop low and head home. The hosts have to be favourites to win now.

38'

Filip Bilbija

GOAL!

1:1

Assist:Calvin Brackelmann

Filip Bilbija

Goal probability

Goal probability

Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.

72 %

Distance to Goal

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

3.99 m

How costly will that red card be?

Wolfsburg remain in front on aggregate thanks to Pejčinović's early strike, but Mæhle's red card has left his side in a really precarious position. Paderborn are very much on top and looking to equalise.

© Christof Koepsel

36'

Nodded over

Marino meets a corner from Baur, but gets too much on it and plants his header firmly over the crossbar.

35'

Great stop

Castaneda swings a left boot at a bouncing ball in the box, and Grabara has to react quickly to get down low and make the save. Paderborn are sending cross after cross into the box at the moment.

32'

Plenty of action

The first leg may have been disappointing, but tonight has certainly been full of action. We've seen an early goal, an early red card and plenty of commitment.

27'

Another booking

Curda comes flying into the back of Daghim and becomes the fifth player of the night to receive a card.

27'

Yellow card

26'

Off target

Castenada has a go after a loose ball drops to him on the edge of the box, but he misses the target by some margin.

25'

Paderborn on top

Souza goes into the book for stopping a counter, and then Paderborn win a corner after a good delivery from the right. The hosts are firmly on top.

24'

Yellow card

23'

Paderborn controlling the ball

Don't expect that to change either now that the hosts have a numerical advantage. Wolfsburg could be in for a long night defensively.

Possession (%)

6535

20'

Not far away

Müller almost meets a good cross from the right, but the ball loops just over his head, and he fouls Belocian on his way back down to earth.

17'

Off target

Marino lays off a pass into the path of Baur on the edge of the box, and he has a go, but he can only drag his shot narrowly wide.

0:24

Mæhle is sent off

Just moments after picking up his first yellow card, Mæhle goes flying in on Hansen whilst trying to win a loose ball to counter, and he catches his opponent high on the leg. No hesitation from the referee, and the Dane is sent off.

14'

Second yellow card

12'

Early bookings

Mæhle kicks the ball away on the touchline before Bilbija slams into him in frustration. Both players are shown yellow cards for their actions. Pervan also picks up a yellow from the bench for his protests.

12'

Yellow card

11'

Yellow card

11'

Yellow card

9'

First corner

Looking to bounce back, Paderborn win their first corner. The ball is launched into the box a couple of times, but Wolfsburg survive the brief onslaught.

What a start!

And it looks so easy too! A chipped ball in behind finds Daghim. He pulls a low cross back towards the edge of the box, and Pejčinović sweeps home what could be a massive goal.

© IMAGO/Ulrich Hufnagel

3'

Dženan Pejčinović

GOAL!

0:1

Assist:Adam Daghim

Dženan Pejčinović

Goal probability

Goal probability

Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.

13 %

Shot speed

Shot speed

Shot speed describes the maximum speed in km/h that a ball reaches in a shot on goal. The distance is measured from the location of the shot to the centre of the goal.

81.72 km/h

Distance to Goal

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

15.23 m

1'

We're underway

The ball is moving in the battle for Bundesliga football.

Kick-off!

Players in the tunnel

Not long now until we get underway.

Bundesliga experience to make the difference?

Not a single Paderborn starter has ever played in the Bundesliga. Meanwhile, the Wolfsburg starting XI has accumulated 511 Bundesliga appearances.

© DFL/Getty Images/Oliver Hardt

Wind returns to the squad

The Dane (l.) has struggled for game time all season due to a host of different injuries, but he is back on the bench today. The last time he played, he started and scored in the 6-3 defeat against Bayer Leverkusen.

© INA FASSBENDER

Klaas on the left?

Sticker's suspension has led to a bit of a shuffle in Paderborn's midfield that could well see Klaas (r.) playing out on the left flank.

© Selim Sudheimer

Paderborn team news

Likewise, there is just the one change for Paderborn, and again, it is a player returning from suspension that makes the starting XI. Baur (pictured) was also suspended for the first leg and comes into the team to replace Sticker, who was sent off late on in that match.

© DFL/Getty Images/Lukas Schulze

Wolfsburg team news

The only change for the Bundesliga side is the return of Vinicius Souza (pictured), who missed the first leg through suspension. Gerhardt is the one to make way for the Brazilian.

© DFL/Getty Images/Oliver Hardt

Starting line-up: SC Paderborn 07

Formation:3-4-2-1

Paderborn subs

Schubert, Hoffmeier, Götze, Mohr, Bätzner, Kinsombi, Michel, Okpala, Tigges

Starting line-up: VfL Wolfsburg

Formation:3-3-2-2

Wolfsburg subs

Pervan, Adjetey, Jenz, Gerhardt, Lindstrøm, Paredes, Amoura, Shiogai, Wind

Which team is the favourite?

Well, if history is anything to go by, then Wolfsburg are still the more likely to progress. The Bundesliga side has successfully defended its league status in the last six promotion/relegation play-offs. The Bundesliga side has also won the tie on 14 out of the 17 occasions.

© IMAGO/Christian Schroedter

Paderborn team news

Jonah Sticker (pictured) is the only confirmed absentee, due to suspension after picking up a second yellow card in stoppage time at the end of the first leg. Raphael Obermair is a major doubt as he recovers from an Achilles issue, but Kettemann said there is a small hope he could feature.

© Selim Sudheimer

Wolfsburg team news

Wolfsburg are boosted by the return of defensive midfielder Vinicius Souza (pictured) for the second leg after serving a suspension, but Patrick Wimmer will miss out with a thigh problem. A number of long-term injury absences also remain: Arnold (groin), Dárdai (knee), Fischer (groin), Rogério (knee), Seelt (knee) and Wind (thigh)

© DFL/Getty Images/Oliver Hardt

Ralf Kettemann on the second leg

"The attitude, passion, team spirit, and will were all good [in the first leg]. We can do many things the same, but we need to make sure we're on the ball a bit more."

© DFL/Getty Images/Boris Streubel

Dieter Hecking on the second leg

"We analysed the game and discussed with the team what we need to do better. The first leg wasn't our best performance. The team noticed that themselves, and we'll be making some adjustments here and there. It'll be another tight match."

© DFL/Getty Images/Boris Streubel

Laurin Curda on Dennis Seimen

"Everyone probably sees it the same way - the security Dennis gives us at the back is simply incredible. I’ve never seen anything quite like it."

© IMAGO/HMB Media/Yannis Dreimann

Paderborn's protector

Paderborn custodian Dennis Seimen was named Man of the Match for his performance in the first leg - and rightly so! The 20-year-old, who incidentally was the youngest player on the pitch on the night, saved all six shots on target that he faced and also impressed with his work on the ball, completing an impressive 79 percent of his passes.

© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Tonhäuser

Reason for optimism

Incidentally, die Wölfe were also the weakest team at home in the Bundesliga this season, having lost an incredible 11 of their 17 home matches. However, their form on the road proved significantly better, with Dieter Hecking's side ranking ninth leaguewide in the away form table.

© DFL/Getty Images/Boris Streubel

Home disadvantage?

Wolfsburg being held to a goalless draw in the first leg at the Volkswagen Arena is indicative of a larger trend in the relegation/promotion play-offs. In fact - including the current tie - the Bundesliga side has won the first leg at home only once in the last eight play-offs (with Stuttgart proving the exception in 2023).

© DFL/Getty Images/Boris Streubel

Wolfsburg's Yannik Gerhardt calls for focus

"Even if it sounds like a cliché: it’ll come down to the small details, and we need to do those better than Paderborn. We have to stay alert both defensively and offensively to turn the game in our favour. In general, we'll need to stay highly focused for the entire match, make as few mistakes as possible and show our quality [...] The important thing is that we show why we belong in the Bundesliga."

© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Tonhäuser

Ralf Kettemann's thoughts on the first leg

"The lads did a top job, they were brave, showed courage and implemented things really well. Of course, I would have liked to have seen us get a bit more out of one or two situations. But there were also a few moments that we had to come through. We defended brilliantly with everything we had. The lads showed incredible commitment and intensity throughout. If everything had gone perfectly, we might even have grabbed a late winner in the end. But all in all, we’re very pleased with the result, especially with the manner of our performance."

© DFL/Getty Images/Boris Streubel

Dieter Hecking's thoughts on the first leg

"We have to blame ourselves for being too sloppy in the final third. Sometimes it was the final pass that was lacking, other times it was a technical mistake. That meant we ended up with a few decent half-chances, even though they could have turned into much clearer opportunities. We didn’t manage that because Paderborn also defended better than they had in their recent Bundesliga 2 matches. They didn’t open up the spaces in the same way. Of course, we also had the bit of luck you need in a relegation play-off that the ball didn’t end up going in."

© DFL/Getty Images/Boris Streubel

0:17

Watch: Castaneda happy with first-leg performance

0:21

Watch: Eriksen already looking forward to second leg

2:03

Watch: Wolfsburg 0-0 Paderborn - first-leg highlights

There were no goals at the Volkswagen Arena on Thursday as Wolfsburg failed to make the most of home advantage. It's now winner takes all in the second leg in Paderborn.

What's the play-off all about?

Wolfsburg hosted the first leg of the clash at the Volkswagen Arena last Thursday. The decisive second leg is in Paderborn on Monday 25 May. The team that wins on aggregate will get to play in the top flight in 2026/27. The loser either goes down or remains in Bundesliga 2. If level on aggregate after 180 minutes, there will be 30 minutes of extra time and, if required, penalties. The away goals rule is no longer in use.

© Joern Pollex/Getty Images

Hello and welcome!

Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this promotion/relegation play-off second leg between Paderborn and Wolfsburg.