It will be all to play for on Saturday as newly-promoted Paderborn - the surprise package in the Bundesliga - take on struggling Borussia Dortmund. For the visitors, nothing but three points will do as Jurgen Klopp's side attempt to start moving up the league table.
"If Dortmund are at 100%, it will be hard"
- Andre Breitenreiter
Despite the contrasting form of the two sides, manager Andre Breitenreiter has insisted that Dortmund will have to be off-colour in order for his side to get a result: "If Dortmund are at 100 per cent, it will be hard," Breitenreiter said. In a positive outlook that reflects the way in which Paderborn have tackled games in which they are the underdog this season, Breitenreiter also said his side would be prepared and ready should Dortmund not be at the races: "If not, we will be there to take our chance," he said.
It is a confidence that stems from an incredible start to the 2014/15 Bundesliga campaign since being promoted from the 2. Bundesliga. Despite being pegged for relegation by critics and fans alike, Paderborn have taken the league by storm, collecting 15 points in their opening 11 games. Their form sees Paderborn sitting in a highly respectable ninth place, just four points adrift of the Champions League places. Breitenreiter's side will go into Saturday's game after a disappointing 3-0 defeat to FC Augsburg before the international break, however, and will be hoping to bounce straight back with a positive result against Dortmund.
"Our problem is producing consistent form"
- Jurgen Klopp
For Klopp and Dortmund, the road to redemption is a long one - but his side have finally stopped the rot. As the manager has repeatedly insisted this season, it is the struggle for consistency that is the problem. In flashes, Dortmund have shown the fans what they are fully campable of, and their Champions League form attests to that. However, they cannot do it on a regular basis. Klopp had this to say pre-match, complimenting Paderborn on their style of play: "Our problem is producing consistent form on the pitch. Paderborn are the perfect example of tactics, playfulness and tempo," he said.
Dortmund have, incredibly, already lost as many games - seven - as they did in the entirety of the 2013/14 Bundesliga campaign. With just three wins and 10 points from their opening 11 fixtures, Klopp's side in fifteenth place and are struggling to get their season kick-started. A run of five losses was finally ended in bizarre fashion before the international break, as they overcome arch-rivals Borussia Monchengladbach 1-0, courtesy of a freak Christoph Kramer own goal. The fans will be praying the win is the stroke of the luck Dortmund need to start their charge back up the league table, as they search for that elusive Champions League qualifying spot.
For Breitenreiter and his Paderborn side, there is a race against time as captain Uwe Hünemeier is still suffering the effects of a torn abdominal muscle. It is more bad news as defender Jens Wemmer is confirmed as sidelined due to a similar injury picked up in the 3-0 defeat to Augsburg.
Klopp will be relieved to have Marco Reus fit and ready for action after recovering from his ankle knock. In further good news the manager expects to have Lukaz Piszczek and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also available. Defenders Mats Hummels and Sokratis are both confirmed as sidelined, so Matthias Ginter will start alongside Neven Subotic in the heart of the Dortmund defence.