Story perspectives

Paderborn Secures Bundesliga Spot After Extra-Time Victory.

5/26/2026

Summary

Paderborn Secures Promotion

SC Paderborn secured promotion to the Bundesliga by defeating VfL Wolfsburg 2-1 after extra time in the play-off on Monday night.
Joakim Mæhle received a second yellow card and was sent off after 14 minutes of the match.
Sebastian Lange, SC Paderborn’s managing director for sport, said the sending-off helped his side.
The promotion marks the third time SC Paderborn has reached the Bundesliga in its history.

Summary

Wolfsburg Relegated

Wolfsburg was relegated after a 28-year Bundesliga stay, its first drop since promotion in 1997/98, after surviving relegation playoffs in 2017 and 2018.
Swiss former goalkeeper Diego Benaglio served on the supervisory board while former player Pirmin Schwegler was sports director.
Veteran coach Dieter Hecking, 61, was hired to stabilise the side but could not prevent the drop, leaving the club’s European ambitions to face 2. Bundesliga financial and sporting challenges.

Summary

Kettemann Takes Helm

Ralf Kettemann, 39, succeeded Lukas Kwasniok as head coach after leading Karlsruhe’s U19 side.
Goalkeeper Dennis Seimen, on loan from Stuttgart, kept nine clean sheets and earned four Germany U21 caps.
Paderborn posted an eight-match win streak from September to November and a ten-match unbeaten run in spring.
The Home Deluxe Arena seats about 15,000 fans and often sells out, showing strong local support.

History

Historical Context

SC Freiburg earned promotion to the Bundesliga in the 1993-94 season under Volker Finke, beginning a sustained period in Germany’s top tier and later adding three more promotions, the latest as 2. Bundesliga champions in 2016. The club’s four second-division titles (1993, 2003, 2009, 2016) illustrate how repeated ascents have repeatedly boosted its profile and finances.

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Paderborn Secures Promotion

SC Paderborn secured promotion to the Bundesliga by defeating VfL Wolfsburg 2-1 after extra time in the play-off on Monday night.
Joakim Mæhle received a second yellow card and was sent off after 14 minutes of the match.
Sebastian Lange, SC Paderborn’s managing director for sport, said the sending-off helped his side.
The promotion marks the third time SC Paderborn has reached the Bundesliga in its history.

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