Neither side could make their periods of dominance or possession count, as the final game of 2014, for both, drew to a dull conclusion.
Huub Stevens opted for a more attacking approach against Paderborn, after a strong defensive showing against Hamburger SV during mid-week. Even though Georg Niedermeier was sent-off early on in the second-half, the Swabians managed to hold out for a 1-0 win. Niedermeier was replaced by Timo Werner. Daniel Schwaab moved inn at centre-half, this allowed Schwaab to shift into his more natural position and Florian Klein, now at right-back, to do the same. Daniel Didavi replaced the injured Alexandru Maxim in Stevens' only other change.
Paderborn and André Breitenreiter fell to defeat on Wednesday, after Schalke beat them 1-2. It was a disappointing loss but one which was very unlucky, with even some of the Royal Blues admitting luck played its part. For this one Patrick Ziegler, Moritz Stoppelkamp and Daniel Brückner returned to the starting eleven, meaning Christian Strohdiek, Alban Meha and Mahir Saglik were relegated to the bench.
It was the hosts who had the majority of possession and the best chance early on. After some positive play from Klein on the right hand side, he cut the ball back to Werner. The teenager couldn't get hold of his shot and it trickled across the face of Lukas Kruse's goal. Paderborn's goalkeeper was called into action soon after, making a great reaction save from Didavi's costless-kick.
Stuttgart were by far the better side and when Adam Hlousek rose highest at the back post, it looked a formality that he would put the hosts ahead. However, the Czech international put his header past the post. Stopplekamp had a great chance, as Paderborn responded, though Sven Ulreich did well to turn the one-on-one chance around the post.
Kruse continued to thwart the Swabians' attacks, but the nearest they came was through Brückner. A long-ball forward was met the left-back, who was trying to find his goalkeeper, but he instead hit the post. Paderborn eventually hacked it clear and, as they breathed a collective sigh of relief, both sides went into the dressing rooms level-pegging.
The second half began much more evenly and neither side could force a clear cut opportunity, though Uwe Hünemeier's header had to be dealt with by Ulreich. Paderborn were enjoying possession, but couldn't turn any of it into chances. The crowd at the Mercedes-Benz Arena were still making plenty of noise, even with the lacklustre performance from both sides. The game drew to a close with neither side showing any sign of urgency to get three points, even though a win was of equal importance for the pair.
The draw means that Stuttgart move onto seventeen points, just ahead of Werder Bremen on goal difference. Paderborn go to tenth on nineteen points, though only two points separates themselves and Bremen in sixteenth. Both sides can now enjoy the Winter break, as they return on January 31st; Breitenreiter's men will travel to Mainz and VfB will welcome Borussia Mönchengladbach.