WOB Wolfsburg Wolfsburg - SCP Paderborn Paderborn

Thu, 21.05.202618:30 PM

Volkswagen Arena

Unbeaten record

Wolfsburg are unbeaten in five previous meetings with Paderborn, winning three and drawing two. The teams' last encounter - on Matchday 20 of the 2019/20 Bundesliga campaign - ended in a 4-2 victory for the Wolves, with current club captain Maximilian Arnold (r.) completing the scoring.

What promotion would mean to Paderborn

Paderborn have twice sampled life in the top tier, in 2014/15 and 2019/20 (under Steffen Baumgart), but they would love a third attempt to establish themselves in the Bundesliga, having been relegated immediately following the previous two promotions. Their only previous play-off experience saw them come up from the 3. Liga with a pair of 1-0 wins over Osnabrück in 2009.

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Watch: Wolfsburg stay up in 2017

A Vieirinha thunderbolt helped Wolfsburg secure survival with victory at Eintracht Braunschweig in 2016/17.

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Watch: Wolfsburg stay up in 2018

The Wolves secured their place in the Bundesliga for another season with a 4-1 aggregate win over Holstein Kiel in the 2017/18 play-off.

What relegation would mean to Wolfsburg

A drop to Bundesliga 2 would be uncharted territory for Wolfsburg, who have been in the Bundesliga ever since their first promotion to the top flight in 1996/97. They have previously survived the play-off twice before in 2017 and 2018.

How Paderborn got here

Ralf Kettemann's youthful side spent most of the season in and around the top three of Bundesliga 2 and landed third spot on the final day. On-loan goalkeeper Dennis Seimen has been a revelation this season, while winger Filip Bilbija has hit 15 goals.

How Wolfsburg got here

It's been a turbulent season for the Wolves, who have had three different coaches over the campaign. Paul Simonis was appointed last June but was dismissed in November, to be replaced by Daniel Bauer who was himself succeeded by Dieter Hecking in March. A late-season revival under Hecking, with two wins and two draws in their last five matches, saw Wolfsburg avoid automatic relegation on the final day.

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Watch: Darmstadt 0-2 Paderborn - last time out

Paderborn edged ahead of Hannover into the play-off spot in Bundesliga 2 courtesy of an away win at Darmstadt on Matchday 34 that saw Dennis Seimen make several vital saves.

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Watch: St. Pauli 1-3 Wolfsburg - last time out

Wolfsburg secured a play-off lifeline via a hugely important win at St. Pauli on the final matchday of the Bundesliga season - a result that also sent the hosts down.

What's the play-off all about?

Wolfsburg will host the first leg of the clash at the Volkswagen Arena on Thursday 21 May. The decisive second leg will be 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.

Hello and welcome!

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

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