High-flying Borussia Dortmund take on promoted side Paderborn at the Signal Iduna Park on Saturday, aiming to extend their winning run in all competitions to five games.
The BVB added more wind to their sails with a 3-2 win over Villarreal in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday with in-form striker Serhou Guirassy netting a late brace.
Having begun their campaign with a 2-1 loss to Bayern Munich in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup last month, Dortmund have managed to turn their fortunes around spectacularly since then.
It's not to say that they've been perfect, as the side has been found wanting defensively a few times already this season, but they have shown the grit and character to come up triumphant regardless.
Paderborn are back in the Bundesliga after six years, beating Wolfsburg 2-1 in the second leg of their promotion playoffs in May to seal a top-flight return for the first time since 2020.
However, it hasn't been a smooth run for them ever since, failing to win either of their opening two games in the Bundesliga whilst also scoring zero goals in each.
Borussia Dortmund vs Paderborn Team News
The BVB have received a massive boost with the return of key defenders Nico Schlotterbeck and Ramy Bensebaini, both of whom could play against Paderborn tomorrow, as Niko Kovac hinted.
Emre Can and Giannis Konstantelias remain sidelined while Filippo Mane is slated to return from his muscle injury after the international break. Justin Lerma is also out whereas Samuele Inacio will be serving the second of his two-game suspension.
Paderborn too have a few injury concerns right now with defender Nyamekye Awortwie-Grant currently recovering from a knee injury. Sven Michel is plagued with a muscle problem whereas Timur Gayret has been ruled out until 2027 with an ACL injury.
Borussia Dortmund vs Paderborn Predicted Lineups
Borussia Dortmund's probable XI: Gregor Kobel; Joane Gadou, Waldemar Anton, Daniel Svensson; Julian Ryerson, Jobe Bellingham, Felix Nmecha, Maximilian Beier; Ethan Nwaneri, Marcel Sabitzer; Serhou Guirassy.
Paderborn's probable XI: Nahuel Noll; Jano ter Horst, Tjark Scheller, Mattes Hansen; Laurin Curda, Santiago Castaneda, Raphael Obermair; Laurin Ulrich, Gabriel Vidovic; Rayan Philippe, Marvin Pieringer.
Borussia Dortmund vs Paderborn Prediction
Die Borussen have the momentum in their favor after four consecutive wins and enter the contest as overwhelming favorites against their struggling visitors, who have found life hard upon their first return to Bundesliga in six years. It should end in a comfortable victory for Niko Kovac's side.
Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 3-0 Paderborn
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