SC Paderborn 07 vs VfB Stuttgart

SC Paderborn host VfB Stuttgart in a fixture that matters more than its early calendar slot suggests. Paderborn sit 12th on four points, adjusting to life back in the top flight for the first time since 2020, while Stuttgart languish in 15th with just three points, a jarring comedown after reaching the Champions League last season. Paderborn's form has been choppy: a goalless draw with Mainz, losses to Freiburg and Dortmund, then a bounce-back 3-1 win over Hoffenheim. Striker Filip Bilbija and American midfielder Santiago Castañeda have impressed, and goalkeeper Dennis Seimen faces an awkward reunion on loan from Stuttgart. The visitors have been erratic too, hammered 5-1 by Bayern before thumping Köln 4-1, then back-to-back defeats to Hoffenheim and Dortmund. Forward Deniz Undav, fresh off a prolific season and World Cup football, remains their biggest threat. The sides have rarely met competitively, with Stuttgart's 2-1 DFB-Pokal win back in 2023 their last encounter. Our prediction: 1-2