This one promises to be another mouth-watering Bundesliga clash as Markus Weinzierl's FC Augsburg take on surprise package Paderborn at the SGL arena. With just two points separating the two sides its a difficult one to call, as André Breitenreiter continutes to mastermind Paderborn's wonderful start to the Bundesliga campaign.

"They are like role models for us"

- André Breitenreiter

These two sides have never met in the top flight of German football before, but are well acquainted from the lower divisions. Arguably, both teams' inspiring rise up the ranks is inspiration to those sides in the 2. Bundesliga trying to get themselves playing amongst the elite. Manager Breitenreiter, when discussing Augsburg, openly confessed: "They are like role models for us." Paderborn are three points ahead of their hosts, but the manager insists it is "does not make [them] favourites." It is a position that Paderborn have found themselves in almost every game this season, but they are seemingly happy to revel in it while they continue to shock and surprise.

Paderborn incredibly sit seventh in the Bundesliga table after 10 games, despite critics and fans alike signing them off for the drop before the season had hardly started. Instead, they have surprised from the off. Even when Bayern Munich dispatched them 4-0 and they seemed to hit reality, Paderborn bounced back with a series of fantastic results to leave themselves just two points adrift of the top four. They also go into this game full of confidence, after goals from Marvin Bakalorz, Elias Kachunga and Alban Meha gave them a 3-1 victory over Hertha Berlin.

"They follow the motto 'we've got nothing to lose'"

- Tobias Werner

Augsburg are in tenth place, just two points behind visitors Paderborn, and a win over their old foes would do wonders for their confidence. All at Augsburg respect Paderborn's incredible start to the season, and respect it. Augsburg midfielder Tobias Werner has this to say: "They follow the motto 'we've got nothing to lose' - and I like it," he said. Werner faces an old friend in Lukas Kruse, with whom he played between 2008 and 2011, and said: "I hope they stay up, but I won't be showing Lukas any mercy - I want to score against him."

Weinzierl's Augsburg come into the fixture off the back of a narrow 1-0 defeat away at Schalke 04, and will be looking to build on a performance where they will feel they deserved at least a point. Nevertheless a goal from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar was enough to make the difference between the two sides.

Dominik Kohr is suspended after being sent off last weekend so Markus Feulner will replace him in the Augsburg midfield. Weinzierl will also be without Shawn Parker, Ronny Philip and Marcel de Jong, who are all missing through injury.

Paderborn defender Uwe Hunemeier is injured so Patrick Ziegler should replace him. Marvin Ducksch and Suleyman Koc will also miss the game.

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Ben Johnson
Ben; 21; author and journalist.