Two matches mark the final round of 2. Bundesliga action before the winter break on Friday evening, featuring SC Paderborn against SV Darmstadt and Hertha BSC hosting Arminia Bielefeld.
SC Paderborn vs. SV Darmstadt
SC Paderborn, who previously led the table earlier this season with an impressive eight-match winning streak, has experienced a slowdown, suffering three defeats in their last five matches against promotion rivals. This has resulted in their drop to fourth place in the standings. However, they recently ended a three-match losing streak with a commanding 4-0 victory over Karlsruher SC, which featured a brace from Laurin Curda and additional goals from Raphael Obermair and Tjark Scheller.
SV Darmstadt currently sits just one position above Paderborn and has had a surprising run, with only one defeat in their last twelve league fixtures, establishing them as strong promotion contenders. Last weekend, Darmstadt secured a win against Preußen Münster, largely thanks to Killian Corredor's second-half goal, despite having less possession in the match.
Coach Florian Kohfeldt expressed confidence in his team's preparations, indicating they trained well and are eager for a challenging match against a top-tier opponent.
Paderborn has won both encounters against Darmstadt last season, but the latter's last victory at the Home Deluxe Arena dates back to 2022. This match will also be the first meeting between the two coaches, with Kohfeldt having won only two of five previous matches against Paderborn.
Team News:
SC Paderborn will be without Marcel Hoffmeier, Calvin Brackelmann, and David Kinsombi, while SV Darmstadt reports no injury concerns.
Predicted Lineups:
SC Paderborn (3-4-3): Seimen (GK) - Götze, Scheller, Hansen - Curda, Klaas, Baur, Obermair - Copado, Michel, Bätzner
SV Darmstadt (4-2-3-1): Schuhen (GK) - Lopez, Pfeiffer, Maglica, Nürnberger - Klefisch, Akiyama - Corredor, Richter, Marseiler - Lidberg
Hertha BSC vs. Arminia Bielefeld
Hertha BSC entered December with strong form, winning five consecutive league matches. However, recent performances have seen them collect only one point from their last two games, resulting in a slip to seventh place. A recent 3-3 draw against Greuther Fürth was particularly disappointing, as Hertha relinquished leads twice during the match.
Coach Stefan Leitl emphasized the challenges posed by their upcoming opponents, Arminia Bielefeld, who, despite struggling in recent matches, remain a formidable team known for their discipline and pace.
Arminia Bielefeld's return to the 2. Bundesliga has been inconsistent, with only two wins in their last eleven matches, placing them in 12th position. They managed to halt a three-match losing streak with a goalless draw against Kaiserslautern, where they dominated possession but failed to convert chances.
This match will be the first encounter between the teams since 2022, when they last faced off in the Bundesliga. Bielefeld currently has the lowest away points tally this season, while Leitl holds a mixed record against them as a manager.
Team News:
Hertha BSC will be missing Maurice Krattenmacher, Leon Jensen, and Jay Brooks, while Arminia Bielefeld's top scorer Joel Grodowski is sidelined along with Jeredy Hilterman and Roberts Uldrikis, with Benjamin Boakye and Vincent Ocansey listed as doubtful.
Predicted Lineups:
Hertha BSC (4-2-3-1): Ernst (GK) - Gechter, Leistner, Dardai, Karbownik - Eichhorn, Seguin - Winkler, Cuisance, Reese - Schuler
Arminia Bielefeld (4-3-3): Kersken (GK) - Lannert, Großer, Felix, Handwerker - Mehlem, Russo, Corboz - Momuluh, Wörl, Sarenren Bazee
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