Match Preview vs SC Paderborn 07

Opponents Focus: 

Paderborn have experienced what many would call a relatively positive start to the 2.Liga season. The Ostwestfalen side sit fourth in the table three points ahead of HSV. Under the new regime of Lukas Kwasniok the side have got themselves into a good groove. The former 1.FC Saarbrücken gaffer will be delighted to get the best out of main man Sven Michel who, like his team, is enjoying his impressive start to the 2021/22 season. Eight goals in 10 games giving a huge helping hand to the sides impressive performance. 

Kwasniok has built on a side that following relegation finished right in the middle of the 2.Liga table last season into what could be a promotion chasing side.  Important players like the afore mentioned Michel alongside Felix Platte upfront and Jannik Hurth making the step up with Leopold Zingerle’s injury, the keeper only conceding 11 goals in 10 appearances so far. 

The Match Facts : 

It's Never been a draw:

SC Paderborn and Hamburger SV meet for the 10th time in a competitive match. Interesting: In the nine comparisons so far, there has not been a single draw. So far, there have been six HSV wins and three SCP victories. The Red Shorts, who are the draw kings of the 2.Liga with six draws, want to continue their "no draw" series with the SCP and win their away match in Paderborn as they did in the previous season. Back then, there was a spectacular 4:3 win in Ostwestphalia.  

Special return: 

A special game awaits HSV captain Sebastian Schonlau on Friday evening: the 27-year-old centre-back, who moved to the Elbe from SCP in the summer, has played for SC Paderborn for a whole decade in his life - first from 2007 to 2010 and 2012 to 2013 in the Ostwestfalen youth team and then, with a brief interruption as a player on loan at SC Verl (2014-15), from 2013 to 2021 with the professionals. "I'm looking forward to returning and reuniting with so many former companions," the difference-maker said ahead of the game. 

Impressive Michel: 
 
Paderborn's attacker Sven Michel is one of the most goal-threatening players in the league. The 31-year-old centre-forward has already scored eight goals this season which ranks third in the goalscoring charts behind Simon Terodde (S04, eleven goals) and Guido Burgstaller (FCSP, nine). Michel has scored at least once in seven of his ten games so far. In any case, his scoring record in the SCP dress is impressive: In 172 competitive matches, he has scored 65 times and set up 38 other goals.