Borussia Dortmund go into their meeting with SC Paderborn 07 on the back of four straight wins and sitting third in the table, two points clear of Bayern. The hosts have started fast, and the gap between the two clubs is already obvious before the ball is kicked in Borussia Dortmund vs SC Paderborn 07.
Dortmund's early rhythm
Dortmund opened the Bundesliga season with a 2-0 win over Hamburger SV on August 29, then followed it with a 3-2 comeback against Hoffenheim a week later. That second result was especially telling, because they scored all three goals after the hour mark.
Niko Kovac's side are not just winning, they are doing it in different ways. They have won four of their last five matches, including their last four in all competitions, and their home record is also strong with four wins in their last five at Signal Iduna Park.
Paderborn's blunt start
Paderborn's start has been the opposite. They have failed to score in their first two Bundesliga matches, drawing 0-0 with Mainz 05 and losing 1-0 to Freiburg.
The attack has looked short of ideas as well as goals. They failed to register a single shot on target against Mainz, which makes the trip to Dortmund a steep test for Ralf Kettemann's side.
Sports Mole summed up the mood in their preview: "Dortmund have won four matches on the bounce across all competitions prior to this clash, and will be confident of success once again." They also noted that Paderborn need a first Bundesliga goal for a psychological lift in what looks like a survival fight.
Dortmund's edge is not hard to miss: the form is there, the comeback win showed they can respond under pressure, and Paderborn have not yet found a league goal. The match in Dortmund arrives on 12 September, with the hosts still carrying the sharper early-season start.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
