Wolfsburg vs Paderborn Predictions

Last weekend’s 3-0 win away to Hertha Berlin means that Wolfsburg boss Oliver Glasner, who previously managed at Austrian side LASK Linz, still holds his 100% record after three competitive games (one DFB Pokal and two Bundesliga). Striker Wout Weghorst – who bagged 17 goals in 18/19 – looks his talisman, having found the back of the net in each, and both will fancy their chances ahead of the visit of newly promoted SC Paderborn to the Volkswagen Arena.

No team has had more of a rollercoaster few years than Paderborn, who are back in the German top-flight after four years – they went all the way to the 3. Liga and back in that time! The ride hasn’t slowed down since returning to the Bundesliga. Paderborn were on the wrong side of the second-highest scoring game on matchday 1 (3-2 vs Bayer Leverkusen) and they also failed to hold on to a 1-0 lead against Freiburg in their first home game of the season (3-1 defeat).

It’s hard, therefore, for Paderborn to be too optimistic going into this weekend. They failed to beat Wolfsburg in both of their 14/15 season meetings (D1 L1) and with Glasner’s men unbeaten in eight at home (W6 D2), now doesn’t look like the ideal time to break this trend. Wolfsburg forward Josip Brekalo, who has scored two in three substitute appearances so far this term, will also be on hand if things aren’t going to plan.

Going off this, we feel that backing the hosts to get the win looks reasonable. Wolfsburg haven’t seen too many changes at their camp over the summer and as we mentioned before, they ended last season in good form at the Volkswagen Arena. Notably, three of these wins came against promoted sides from the prior two seasons, which shows that the Wolves know how to make the most of their favourable fixtures.

That’s not to say that we won’t see Paderborn get on the score-sheet, though. Wolfsburg have kept just one clean sheet in their last seven at home and Paderborn boss Stefan Baumgart has some good attacking options to choose from. Sterli Mamba is one to keep an eye on, having scored two goals in two appearances for them since making the jump up from the 3. Liga over the summer. Both teams scored in 65% of Wolfsburg’s home games overall last season too.

With six goals conceded already this season, it’s clear that Paderborn’s weakness is at the back. Wolfsburg will have more than enough experience to take advantage of that. As such, we can’t see this going any other way than a comfortable home win. And with Wolfsburg averaging 2.8 goals scored per game at the Volkswagen Arena in 2019, we’re also backing a correct score of 3-1 to the hosts.