Kittel the star as HSV defeat Paderborn

Dream Kittel free-kick puts HSV in front

Daniel Thioune made a single change from the starting line-up against Fortuna Düsseldorf, Bakery Jatta coming back into the side for Khaled Narey on the right-hand wing. The Rothosen were aggressive from the first whistle, pressing their visitors high up the pitch and not allowing them to grow into the game when in possession, forcing a number of basic errors from the Paderborn backline. The pressure resulted in three corners in the opening eight minutes, the third leading to the opening goal, Toni Leistner flicking on a Jeremy Dudziak corner at the front post for Moritz Heyer to head in at the back post for his second goal of the season. One half of the rock-solid HSV defensive duo, Toni Leistner, had to be substituted soon after, seemingly pulling his hamstring in a long sprint against Sven Michel. 

The Rothosen needed a few minutes to reorganise themselves after Leistner's substitution, but increased the pressure again and doubled their lead in the 22nd minute. Jeremy Dudziak was pulled down by Uwe Hünemeier 25 yards from goal, Sonny Kittel stepping up and smashing the free-kick through the Paderborn wall, the ball skipping over the turf into the bottom corner at a rate of knots, SCP 'keeper Leopold Zingerle likely unsighted by his defensive wall and caught out by Kittel aiming for the near post. The momentum changed after the second goal again, Paderborn increasingly gaining a foothold in the game and themselves looking threatening from set-pieces. It was a free-kick that was the starting point of the first goal back from the Sauerland team in the 41st minute, HSV initially clearing but disorganised by the time of the second wave. Chris Führich was played through on goal via a lofted through-ball, Sven Ulreich doing well to block the winger's attempt, but the ball fell straight to Sven Michel who could pass in from six yards out for a deserved SCP goal just before the half.