Paderborn return to the German top-flight this season following their promotion play-off victory over Wolfsburg . The club return to the Bundesliga for the first time since relegation following the 2019/20 season, having finished 18th.
Paderborn previously had two spells in the Bundesliga, in 2014/15 and 2019/20, being relegated both times after just one season.
Survival will be their main goal, but just how likely is that?
They will face Mainz in their opener at the MEWA Arena on Saturday, August 29.
Paderborn had a reasonably impressive preseason. After thrashing the amateur Blau-Weiß Ostenland 18-0, they went on to get some decent results, losing only one match (2-0 against Magdeburg).
They beat Hannover 3-2 when Stefano Marino completed a brace with a 90+7th minute goal. They took on J1 side Fagiano Okayama, winning 3-1, with a brace from Sven Michel. Another brace by Jano ter Horst, scoring in the 87th and 90+2nd minutes put them 2-1 up against English Championship side Southampton.
A 2-0 win over Osnabrück and a 2-2 draw with Werder Bremen wrapped up their pre-season in early August.
Paderborn have already featured in their first competitive match of the season, defeating Regionalliga North side Phonix Lubeck 4-2 in the first round of the DFB Pokal.
Paderborn had a net transfer balance of roughly -€450,000 – a departure from the usual business in previous years following promotion.
The most notable loss to the squad will be, without a doubt, Filip Bilbija . The 26-year-old scored 15 goals in the 2. Bundesliga last season, instrumental in their promotion campaign. Even worse, he left on a free transfer to Derby County, leaving a glaring gap in attacking strength as Paderborn seek to stay up for the first time in their history.
Paderborn illustrated intent on staying up with the record signing of Gabriel Vidovic from Croatia n side Dinamo Zagreb for a club record fee of €3 million. The previous record signing for the club was Moritz Stoppelkamp in 2014 for just €700,000. Vidovic is a Bayern academy graduate and was once considered one of the academy's more promising products. Vidovic was born in Germany and represented Croatia at youth level. He recorded seven goals and six assists for Dinamo last season and has already scored in Paderborn's first DFB Pokal fixture. The move gives the 22-year-old a chance to establish himself in the Bundesliga and to help his new club survive their third spell in the Bundesliga.
Another ex-Bayern talent picked up by Paderborn for €400,000 is Oliver Batista Meier . The winger has spent several seasons in the 2. Bundesliga and 3. Liga, but has found himself back in the top flight with his new club. The German scored six goals last season for SC Preußen Münster. He came on in the second half of Paderborn's DFB Pokal first round match and assisted the fourth goal of the match, scored by fellow new arrival Vidovic.
Albert Millgramm was signed from Magdeburg before the end of last season. The 21-year-old winger spent the vast majority of his time with the reserves, with very brief cameo appearances for the first team. Only months ago, he was reportedly working part-time at German supermarket Rewe alongside playing football, and has found his way to the Bundesliga. He seems eager to prove himself. It's a feel-good story, but Paderborn fans hope that he can put his 'one-on-one' talent on show in the Bundesliga.
3-4-2-1: Schubert – Hansen, Scheller, ter Horst – Obermair , Castaneda, Ulrich, Curda – Vidovic, Batista Meier – Marino.
Paderborn head coach Ralf Kettemann has experimented with various formations and lineups throughout pre-season. It's likely that the team will line up almost identically for their first Bundesliga match as they did for the Pokal. A defensive formation could also be employed, but they'll want to come out swinging if they want to show some intent about their campaign.
Paderborn's defence are in the midst of an injury crisis, which complicate things for Kettemann. Expect this backline to look very different as the season progresses.
Batista Meier could, and probably should start over Millgramm for Matchday 1 – someone with a bit more first-team experience would be vital as they attempt to find their feet in the top flight.
The dream for Paderborn is to remain in the Bundesliga rather than toppling back down with straight relegation.
Record signings and expenditure are one thing, but how they play against seasoned Bundesliga teams will be entirely different.
It's difficult to see anything else than relegation for them, but we could all be shocked by the end of the season.
If they are to avoid relegation, it will most likely be through winning the relegation play-off.
