Wolfsburg and Paderborn stay level in the Bundesliga promotion/relegation play-off after a tense 0-0 first leg at Volkswagen Arena. Wolfsburg carried more threat but could not finish, while Paderborn lost Jonah Sticker to a late red card, adding extra pressure before Monday’s decisive second meeting.
The hosts created far more than Paderborn, firing 17 attempts worth 1.5 expected goals. Five of those efforts tested Dennis Seimen, yet Wolfsburg still failed to score. Paderborn managed only two shots, valued at 0.1 xG, but almost stole victory near the end.
The biggest scare for Wolfsburg arrived on 84 minutes, when Filip Bilbija reacted quickest to a long throw. After a scramble in the box, Bilbija lifted a tight-angled shot over Kamil Grabara,
but two retreating defenders recovered to hook the ball off the goal-line.
Earlier, Wolfsburg pushed hard after the break, yet the pattern from the first half continued. Adam Daghim’s looping header shortly after the hour was safely held by Seimen. Christian Eriksen then had a curling free-kick punched away and later fired over as Wolfsburg chased a lead for the second leg.
Paderborn had started far sharper. Inside nine minutes, Santiago Castaneda turned neatly and drilled low towards the far post, only for Grabara to punch clear. As Wolfsburg settled, Denis Vavro and Jeanuel Belocian both drove shots wide, before Seimen spread body and blocked Daghim’s one-on-one chance.
FINAL All to play for on Monday. ___ 0-0 #WOBSCP#VfLWolfsburg pic.twitter.com/r9X0CBj6vpVfL Wolfsburg EN/US (@VfLWolfsburg_EN) May 21, 2026
The numbers underlined Wolfsburg’s attacking control against Paderborn in this Bundesliga play-off. Wolfsburg, who recently beat St. Pauli 3-1 to preserve top-flight hopes, produced far more efforts on goal, while Paderborn’s usually efficient attack struggled, days after missing automatic promotion only on goal difference.
| Team | Shots | Shots on target | Expected goals (xG) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wolfsburg | 17 | 5 | 1.5 |
| Paderborn | 2 | 0 | 0.1 |
Despite that shot imbalance, the tie remains finely balanced. Wolfsburg are still unbeaten against Paderborn, with a record of W3 D3 in six meetings. All three draws have come on Wolfsburg’s home pitch, including this goalless first leg, showing how often this fixture stays tight.
Late drama centred on Jonah Sticker, whose dismissal shapes the second leg between Wolfsburg and Paderborn. Sticker received a yellow card in the 92nd minute for a tactical foul. Two minutes later, the wing-back collected a second card for a late challenge on Kevin Paredes and must now serve a suspension.
Both clubs now travel to Monday’s second leg knowing one goal could decide Bundesliga status. Wolfsburg will seek sharper finishing after wasting control and chances, while Paderborn must adjust without Sticker. With no aggregate advantage for either side, the promotion and relegation play-off remains wide open.
