2. Bundesliga preview: Arminia Bielefeld vs. SC Paderborn | OneFootball

With both sides battling for crucial points at opposite ends of the table, Saturday’s clash promises to be a compelling encounter as Mitch Kniat’s Arminia host Ralf Kettemann’s promotion-chasing Paderborn.

Arminia began the year in encouraging fashion, losing just one of their first five matches and creating a small buffer above the relegation zone. However, a three-game losing streak has undone much of that progress, leaving Bielefeld heading into the weekend in 12th place and just two points clear of the automatic drop zone.

Their most recent outing ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat away to league leaders Schalke - their seventh away loss of the campaign. Despite the result, Kniat’s side remained competitive throughout and even had a goal ruled out ten minutes from time. They will hope to build on that spirited display when they face another of the league’s stronger sides this weekend.

Paderborn, meanwhile, continue to keep pace with the promotion contenders but are still searching for the consistency that saw them lead the table for large spells of the Hinrunde. Kettemann’s side are currently unbeaten in five matches, yet they remain in fourth place as the chasing pack stays tightly clustered.

Last weekend’s 1-1 draw at home to relegation-threatened Braunschweig summed up their recent frustrations. Paderborn controlled much of the contest but struggled to convert their dominance into goals. Sven Michel eventually salvaged a point with a dramatic strike in the 98th minute, though the result did little to strengthen their push for automatic promotion.

Team news

Arminia Bielefeld: Stefano Russo is suspended whilst Isaiah Young and Joel Felix are unavailable due to injury. 

SC Paderborn: Marcel Hoffmeier, Anton Bäuerle and Lucas Copado are all unavailable due to injury, while Sven Michel misses out through suspension.

H-2-H record

Paderborn edged a dramatic 4-3 victory in the reverse fixture at the Home Deluxe Arena back in October, with Steffen Tigges’ 62nd-minute strike proving decisive in a seven-goal thriller. However, Paderborn have historically struggled in this fixture and are still searching for their first away win in Bielefeld.

Predicted lineups

Arminia Bielefeld (4-3-3): Kersken (GK) - Boakye, Bauer, Knoche, Handwerker - Wörl, Großer, Corboz - Momuluh, Uldrikis, Rochelt 

SC Paderborn (3-4-2-1): Seimen (GK) - Götze, Scheller, Brackelmann - Curda, Castaneda, Baur, Obermair - Klaas, Müller - Tigges