Paderborn - VfB Stuttgart: important Bundesliga clash after the international break
SC Paderborn 07 and VfB Stuttgart will meet on Saturday, October 10, 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 15:30 Central European Summer Time at the Home Deluxe Arena in Paderborn. The match in the fifth round of the German Bundesliga brings together a newly promoted side that has just recorded its first league victory and an ambitious Stuttgart team whose start to the season has been considerably more difficult than expected.
Both teams return to league action after the international break. Paderborn ended their most recent league match with a 3-1 victory over TSG Hoffenheim, while Stuttgart lost 0-1 to Borussia Dortmund. The hosts enter the match with four points in 12th place, while the visitors have three points and occupy 15th position.
For Paderborn, this is an opportunity to prove that they can compete on equal terms against stronger Bundesliga opponents. Stuttgart, on the other hand, are looking for a victory that would end their run of league defeats and allow them to begin climbing towards the upper half of the standings.
Interest in the match has already reached the stadium's maximum capacity. All 15,000 places at the Home Deluxe Arena were sold out before matchday, meaning no tickets will be available at the stadium ticket offices. Supporters planning to travel must have secured their places in the stands in advance.
What is at stake for Paderborn and Stuttgart?
SC Paderborn 07 secured their return to the Bundesliga after spending six seasons in the second tier of German football. Ralf Kettemann's team finished the 2025/2026 season in third place in the second division and then secured promotion to the top flight through the play-offs against VfL Wolfsburg.
The club's main objective in the new season is to retain their Bundesliga status. In their previous two appearances among Germany's elite clubs, in the 2014/2015 and 2019/2020 seasons, Paderborn were relegated after just one year. Therefore, every point earned, especially at home, has long-term value.
Paderborn's results in the first four league rounds:
- Matchday 1: 1. FSV Mainz 05 - SC Paderborn 07 0-0.
- Matchday 2: SC Paderborn 07 - SC Freiburg 0-1.
- Matchday 3: Borussia Dortmund - SC Paderborn 07 3-0.
- Matchday 4: SC Paderborn 07 - TSG Hoffenheim 3-1.
After three matches without scoring a goal, Paderborn showed significantly greater efficiency against Hoffenheim. That victory was their first in the Bundesliga in more than six years and provided an important psychological boost for the remainder of the competition.
VfB Stuttgart began the season with different ambitions. The club, which also competes in European competitions under Sebastian Hoeneß, wants to rejoin the battle for places near the top of the table. However, the opening league schedule has been demanding.
Stuttgart suffered a 1-5 away defeat against FC Bayern München, then convincingly beat 1. FC Köln 4-1, but defeats followed, 1-2 away to Hoffenheim and 0-1 against Borussia Dortmund.
Three defeats in four rounds have left Stuttgart in the lower part of the standings. A victory in Paderborn would not solve all their problems, but it would provide the visitors with an important improvement in results and allow them to approach the next stage of the league campaign with greater confidence.
SC Paderborn 07: victory over Hoffenheim changed the mood
Paderborn's latest Bundesliga match demonstrated why Kettemann's team can be a difficult opponent even for clubs with higher-quality individual players.
Against TSG Hoffenheim, the hosts took the lead through Santiago Castaneda in the 30th minute. Stefano Marino doubled the advantage in the 42nd minute following a pass from Laurin Curda. The visitors pulled one back through Adam Daghim to make it 2-1 early in the second half, but Steffen Tigges scored Paderborn's third goal in the 69th minute.
Tigges came off the bench at the beginning of the second half and converted a cross from Jonah Sticker. That moment demonstrated how substitutions can influence the hosts' play, particularly when space opens up for deliveries from the flanks.
One of Paderborn's most important players in the opening part of the season has been Laurin Curda. According to Bundesliga statistics, he won 61 duels in the first four rounds, more than any other player in the competition, with a success rate of 59 percent. Curda also provided the assist for Marino's goal against Hoffenheim.
His physical presence and work on the flank are particularly important to the style of play that Ralf Kettemann wants to develop. Paderborn must remain compact without the ball while simultaneously using quick transitions to move possession towards their attackers.
Santiago Castaneda, scorer of Paderborn's first Bundesliga goal of the season, plays a significant role in midfield. Laurin Ulrich is important in linking midfield with attack, while Gabriel Vidović provides technical ability in the final third of the pitch.
Steffen Tigges and Stefano Marino demonstrated against Hoffenheim that they can convert opportunities arising from different situations. Tigges poses a threat in the air and inside the penalty area, while Marino can attack the space behind the defensive line.
Paderborn also used the international break for a trip to the United States of America. During their visit, the team defeated D.C. United 1-0 before continuing preparations for Stuttgart.
At the press conference on October 8, Kettemann expressed satisfaction with the work done in training. He particularly highlighted Oliver Batista Meier as a player who had made good use of the break and increased competition for a place in the team.
VfB Stuttgart: attacking quality and Dennis Seimen's special return
Stuttgart scored six goals in their first four Bundesliga matches, four of them coming in their only league victory against Köln.
In that match, Bilal El Khannouss, Grischa Prömel, Ermedin Demirović and Josha Vagnoman all found the net. El Khannouss's performance was particularly important, as he scored the opening goal following a run through the central part of the defence, setting the match on a course favourable to Stuttgart.
Sebastian Hoeneß has players capable of creating chances through combinations in central areas, runs down the flanks and quick positional exchanges.
Deniz Undav is one of the team's key attacking assets, while Ermedin Demirović can provide directness, finishing ability and a presence in the penalty area. Chris Führich and Jamie Leweling offer pace on the wings, while Angelo Stiller provides organisation from midfield.
For spectators in Paderborn, the visitors' goalkeeping position will be particularly interesting.
Dennis Seimen is expected to make his Bundesliga debut against his former club. The young goalkeeper spent the previous 2025/2026 season on loan at Paderborn and contributed to their return to the top division.
Sebastian Hoeneß confirmed at his press conference that Seimen would start the match. After recovering from injury, the goalkeeper played in a friendly against SpVgg Greuther Fürth, which Stuttgart won 5-0.
Seimen's return to the Home Deluxe Arena therefore carries an additional sporting and emotional dimension. He knows some of the players and the surroundings where he spent the previous season very well, and will now attempt to stop the attackers with whom he shared a dressing room until recently.
There are other connections between the clubs. Chris Führich played for Paderborn during the 2020/2021 season, while Laurin Ulrich is currently on loan at Paderborn from Stuttgart. Stuttgart's sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth also previously worked at Paderborn.
Tactical expectations: Paderborn's aggression against Stuttgart's pressing
Ralf Kettemann and Sebastian Hoeneß have different options for organising their teams' play, but both sides aim to compete actively for possession and create attacking situations quickly.
According to the anticipated tactical setups, Paderborn could play in a 3-3-2-2 formation, while Stuttgart could line up in a 4-2-3-1 system. These are expected formations, with the final starting line-ups to be confirmed approximately one hour before kick-off.
Defensive discipline will be particularly important for Paderborn. The three central players in the back line must prevent Stuttgart's attackers from receiving the ball between defence and midfield. The wide players will face an equally demanding task: stopping the visitors' runs while joining their own attacks at the right moments.
Mattes Hansen, one of Paderborn's defenders, warned that Stuttgart like to press their opponents aggressively using man-oriented marking. He emphasised that the hosts must find solutions to play through this pressing and demonstrate better possession play than they showed against Hoffenheim.
For Stuttgart, controlling midfield will be crucial. Angelo Stiller can dictate the passing tempo, while the players ahead of him look for space to turn towards goal and combine around the edge of the penalty area.
The visiting side must also pay attention to situations following the loss of possession. Paderborn demonstrated against Hoffenheim that they can attack quickly and exploit moments when the opposing defence is disorganised.
Set pieces could represent another important factor. Paderborn's first goal against Hoffenheim came after a corner and an inadequately cleared ball. Stuttgart will therefore need to control second balls, while the hosts may try to create opportunities by delivering crosses towards players such as Tigges.
During the international break, Hoeneß worked on the team's organisation and coordination between players. His side has shown during the league season so far that it can generate strong attacking pressure, but it is still searching for consistent results.
Injuries and expected absences
Both coaches face problems regarding the availability of certain players, with absences particularly significant in defensive rotations.
According to information published by Paderborn on October 8, the hosts will be without Timur Gayret, Nyamekye Awortwie-Grant, Marcel Hoffmeier and Sebastian Klaas.
Awortwie-Grant has a knee injury, Gayret is recovering from a cruciate ligament injury, Hoffmeier from a muscular injury, while Klaas is experiencing thigh muscle problems.
Stuttgart will play without several players who are not yet fully fit. Hoeneß confirmed that it is too early for Dan-Axel Zagadou, Tiago Tomás and Nikolas Nartey to return to competitive action. Justin Diehl and Ameen Al-Dakhil have also not fully resumed team training.
Positive news for Stuttgart is Luca Jaquez's return to training with the rest of the squad, opening up the possibility of his inclusion in the matchday squad.
Given these circumstances, neither coach should be expected to have all their usual options available. The final selection of the starting eleven could also depend on assessments of the players' physical condition following their international commitments.
Head-to-head meetings: Stuttgart remain unbeaten against Paderborn
The history of competitive matches between Paderborn and Stuttgart favours the visiting club.
Before this encounter, they had played five competitive matches against each other. Stuttgart won four times, while one match ended in a draw. Paderborn have yet to record a victory against these opponents.
Previous results:
- January 31, 2023: SC Paderborn 07 - VfB Stuttgart 1-2, cup.
- May 23, 2015: SC Paderborn 07 - VfB Stuttgart 1-2, Bundesliga.
- December 20, 2014: VfB Stuttgart - SC Paderborn 07 0-0, Bundesliga.
- October 31, 2007: VfB Stuttgart - SC Paderborn 07 3-2, cup.
- August 31, 2002: SC Paderborn 07 - VfB Stuttgart 1-4, cup.
The match on the final day of the 2014/2015 Bundesliga season is particularly memorable. Stuttgart won 2-1 in Paderborn, with Daniel Didavi and Daniel Ginczek scoring the goals that secured the visiting team's survival in the top division.
The most recent meeting between the clubs took place in the German Cup in 2023, when Stuttgart also won 2-1 in Paderborn.
Interestingly, the clubs will meet again at the same stadium just 18 days after their league encounter, this time in the second round of the German Cup. This adds further tactical interest to their autumn clashes, as the coaches will have to prepare two matches against the same opponent within a short period.
Home Deluxe Arena: sold-out 15,000-capacity stadium
The Home Deluxe Arena is located at Wilfried-Finke-Allee 1 in Paderborn, a city in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
The stadium was built primarily for football and has a compact arrangement of stands around the pitch. Spectators are relatively close to the playing surface, and all stands are covered, which is useful for matches during the autumn part of the season.
According to the club's information, the stadium has a capacity of 15,000 spectators. This includes 8,785 seated places and 6,215 standing places. The seating capacity also includes 1,209 places in the VIP area.
A full-capacity crowd is expected for the match against Stuttgart, including up to 1,500 visiting supporters.
Home supporters traditionally provide strong backing from the standing sections, and the previous match against Hoffenheim demonstrated how the crowd's reactions can reflect the events on the pitch. A total of 14,224 spectators attended that match and celebrated the team's first Bundesliga victory of the new season.
This time, an important detail will be Dennis Seimen's appearance on the opposite side of the pitch. The return of Paderborn's former goalkeeper, now wearing Stuttgart's colours, is one of the main individual stories surrounding the encounter.
Since the stadium is sold out, supporters without tickets cannot count on purchasing admission on matchday. It is worth checking in advance whether a valid transfer of an already purchased ticket is possible and avoiding travel without confirmed stadium access.
How to get to the Home Deluxe Arena?
Paderborn is connected to Germany's railway and road networks, and visitors arriving from other cities should distinguish between reaching the city centre and completing the final part of the journey to the stadium.
SC Paderborn 07 recommends arriving early because of the expected increase in traffic. Retail facilities near the stadium also attract visitors who add to congestion on surrounding roads.
Essential information for supporters:
- Stadium address: Home Deluxe Arena, Wilfried-Finke-Allee 1, 33104 Paderborn, Germany.
- Arriving by car: From the A33 motorway, the recommended exit is Paderborn-Elsen, followed by continuing towards Detmold and Bad Lippspringe and following the stadium signs.
- Parking: The P1 car park is located next to the stadium, but it is expected to fill up quickly. Advance permits are required for certain other parking areas.
- Park & Ride: The car park at Heinz-Nixdorf-Ring 1, 33106 Paderborn, is connected to the stadium by buses that are expected to run approximately every five minutes.
- Public transport: Buses to the stadium are available from the Paderborn Hauptbahnhof area and the city centre, with additional departures on matchday. Transport from the main railway station is also organised for visiting supporters.
- Bicycle: Approximately 2,000 bicycle parking spaces are available near the stadium.
A ticket for Paderborn's home matches is also valid as a public transport ticket on the PaderSprinter network for two hours before and two hours after the match. This is a practical option for visitors who want to avoid searching for parking.
Drivers must use designated parking areas. Parking on Wilfried-Finke-Allee and Im Quinhagen streets, as well as on private property belonging to surrounding businesses, is prohibited.
Stadium opening times and security checks
For the match against Stuttgart, entrances to the standard home and away sections will open at 14:00, 90 minutes before kick-off. VIP areas will open at 13:30.
The Sportclub Biergarten hospitality area in front of the stadium will begin operating at 13:00, while the club shop will open as early as 10:00.
With the stands sold out, arriving before the gates open or sufficiently early afterwards is recommended, particularly for those who need to pass through security checks and find a place in the standing sections.
Visitors should also pay attention to several rules:
- Bags and backpacks are permitted only up to DIN A4 size.
- Supporters must enter the sections indicated on their tickets.
- Away-team supporter symbols and colours are not permitted in specifically designated home sections.
- Payments at food and drink outlets are made by card or contactless methods. A stadium payment card is also available for use in the home areas.
Rules separating supporter groups are particularly important for visitors arriving from Stuttgart. Away sections are located in blocks E, F and G, while restrictions on wearing the opposing club's colours apply in certain home blocks.
Paderborn as a destination for a football weekend
Paderborn is a historic university city in the eastern part of North Rhine-Westphalia. Visitors attending the match can combine their stadium visit with a tour of the historic city centre.
One of the city's most recognisable landmarks is Paderborner Dom, a cathedral whose present appearance is largely based on construction dating from the 13th century. Nearby are historic buildings associated with the city's early medieval past.
A distinctive feature of Paderborn is the Paderquellen, the springs of the River Pader in the very centre of the city. Water emerges from more than 200 springs, and the short river subsequently flows into the Lippe. The area around the springs has been landscaped as an urban green space suitable for a walk before heading to the stadium.
For visitors interested in technology, the Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum is worth exploring. Covering approximately 6,000 square metres, the museum presents the development of information technology, from the earliest data-recording systems to modern computers, robotics and artificial intelligence.
For supporters arriving in Paderborn by train, it is practical to explore the city centre first and then use the increased bus services to the Home Deluxe Arena. Plans should allow sufficient time to transfer to stadium transport and complete security checks.
What can supporters expect in the stands?
A sold-out Home Deluxe Arena provides a very clear setting for the match: the hosts will attempt to build on their victory over Hoffenheim, while Stuttgart will seek to take the initiative and justify the quality of their squad.
Home supporters will be particularly interested in seeing whether the team can once again create chances through Laurin Curda, Stefano Marino and Steffen Tigges. Expectations have risen following the first goals and first victory of the season, but their opponents are capable of punishing even small mistakes in defensive organisation.
Visiting Stuttgart supporters will primarily follow Dennis Seimen's return, the performances of their creative midfielders and the attempt to end a poor run of results. Against Köln, Stuttgart demonstrated how dangerous they can be when they use the width of the pitch effectively and consistently create opportunities in front of goal.
Up to 1,500 Stuttgart supporters are expected in the stands, ensuring a noticeable presence from both fan groups. The stadium's compact layout brings spectators even closer to the action on the pitch.
For spectators who already have tickets, the most important thing is to organise their journey on time, choose the appropriate entrance and respect the section allocations. Given that the match is sold out, arriving late could mean additional waiting on the roads and approaches to the stadium.
The 15:30 kick-off leaves enough time to arrive in Paderborn in the morning, take a short tour of the city and head to the stadium early. Organisers have announced that the hospitality area will open at 13:00 and the stands at 14:00, allowing supporters to arrive before the largest crowds.
The fact that Paderborn and Stuttgart will soon meet again in the cup adds further interest to the encounter. Saturday's match will therefore also provide an opportunity to compare their tactical approaches ahead of another meeting in which there will be no league points to collect, with only the winner progressing in the competition.
Sources:
- DFB Datencenter - Bundesliga 2026/2027 matchday 5 schedule, results from the first four rounds and league standings.
- Bundesliga.com - SC Paderborn 07 - VfB Stuttgart match preview, Laurin Curda statistics, information on absences, head-to-head record and tactical formations.
- SC Paderborn 07, "Sehr komplettes Team", October 8, 2026 - Ralf Kettemann's press conference, absences, player information and expected attendance.
- VfB Stuttgart, "Dennis Seimen beginnt im Tor", October 8, 2026 - Sebastian Hoeneß's statement, Dennis Seimen's return and the condition of injured players.
- SC Paderborn 07, "Ersehnter erster Sieg", September 20, 2026 - result, goalscorers, line-ups and match events against Hoffenheim.
- VfB Stuttgart, report on the match against 1. FC Köln, September 4, 2026 - result, goalscorers, line-up and the visiting team's performance.
- Worldfootball.net - archive of the five previous meetings between Paderborn and Stuttgart.
- SC Paderborn 07, "Heimspiel-Infos Profis" and "Weg zur Home Deluxe Arena" - sell-out information, gate opening times, transport, parking and security instructions for the match.
- SC Paderborn 07, "Daten & Fakten" - capacity, seating and standing arrangements and Home Deluxe Arena infrastructure.
- City of Paderborn, tourist information and city attractions - Paderborner Dom, the River Pader springs and Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum.