Kiel versus Paderborn: Who will secure the liberation blow?

Kiel versus Paderborn: Who will secure the liberation blow?

The focus of the 2nd Bundesliga next Sunday will be the two teams Holstein Kiel and SC Paderborn. The encounter, which will kick off on January 18, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. in the Holstein Stadium, could be a game-changer for both teams. Holstein Kiel is currently in 11th place with 20 points, one point ahead of Bochum and tied with Münster. A win could potentially position Kiel higher in the table and thus fuel new hopes of promotion. 

In contrast, Paderborn arrives in fourth place with 33 points and is level on points with Darmstadt. However, Paderborn is not in the best shape - with only four points ahead of Hannover, there is pressure to maintain their own position. In addition, Kiel has always conceded a goal in the last five games and has not won a first half. However, the last encounter, a 2-1 win against Dresden, gave the storks some self-confidence back.

Team form curves

Paderborn, on the other hand, can look back on a positive performance after a short dry spell: After three previous defeats, the team stabilized in the last game with a 2-2 draw against Darmstadt. The team was already 0-2 behind at halftime, but Baur and Klaas turned the game around in the second half. In the last five league games, Paderborn have scored more than 1.5 goals in each game, which underlines their offensive strength. The direct duels between Kiel and Paderborn have also been high in goals so far, so fans can expect an exciting duel.

However, the Kiel squad is struggling with injuries. While Erras is out due to a concussion, Paderborn has to do without Hoffmeier, who tore his cruciate ligament. On the other hand, Kiel can count on Okpala, who is ready to play again after his suspension and should play an important role as a target player for crosses. These failures could not only affect the respective defensive performance, but also the team dynamics.

Quotas and expectations

A look at the betting odds shows that Kiel goes into the game with odds of 2.95, while Paderborn is listed at 2.30 and a draw is rated at 3.50. These numbers suggest that both teams have similar potential to win, despite the different positions in the table. The current form and the previous history of the encounters suggest that it will not be easy for one of the teams to gain the upper hand.

The exciting direct duels over the last few years suggest that there is a lot to experience on the pitch. The balance speaks for both teams, as there were two wins and one draw in each of the last five encounters. The last meeting in August 2025 also ended with a narrow 2-1 for Paderborn, which further fuels the rivalry.

The fans can already look forward to a thrilling match that could not only have a strong impact on their ranking but also their self-confidence in the current season. It remains to be seen which team will have the upper hand on Sunday and underline their ambitions in the 2nd Bundesliga.