Borussia Dortmund vs SC Paderborn 07

Borussia Dortmund face SC Paderborn 07 in round three of the 2026 Bundesliga regular season on Saturday, September 12. With domestic football fully underway, the hosts are battling a severe injury crisis, while the promoted visitors arrive still searching for their first league victory.

Dortmund's Mounting Treatment Room Casualties

Borussia Dortmund's early-season momentum has been heavily undermined by a wave of injuries. Star summer signing Giannis Konstantelias suffered a devastating cruciate ligament tear during their opening 2-0 victory over Hamburger SV. The attacking midfielder joins a crowded treatment room that already includes teenage arrival Justin Lerma, who sustained a muscle issue while playing for the Under-23s, and Ramy Bensebaini, who is struggling with rib problems.

Defensively, the squad is stretched remarkably thin. Long-term absentees Emre Can and Nico Schlotterbeck are both continuing their rehabilitation, and Dortmund suffered yet another defensive injury blow in their recent outing against TSG Hoffenheim.

Kovač Seeks Improvement Despite Winning Start

Despite the depleted squad, Dortmund have managed to gather crucial points. Following the opening victory over HSV, they engineered a remarkable second-half comeback to defeat Hoffenheim. However, manager Niko Kovač was brutally honest about his team's performance, admitting to the media that "it was a lucky win" against TSG. The squad will need a much more controlled display to avoid further setbacks before their European schedule begins.

Gutsy Paderborn Look to Exploit Weaknesses

SC Paderborn 07 return to the top flight eager to establish themselves, though their start has been testing. They opened their campaign by contesting the season's first goalless draw away at Mainz 05. In their subsequent fixture, they were narrowly beaten by SC Freiburg, with Maximilian Eggestein’s first-half strike proving the difference despite a spirited, gutsy performance from the promoted side.

Off the pitch, Paderborn have secured their defensive foundation by officially extending the contract of defender Tjark Scheller, hoping that long-term stability will translate into solid performances on the pitch against top-tier opposition.

Dortmund must navigate this fixture carefully with one eye on their looming Champions League commitments, as they prepare to host Spanish side Villarreal CF next Tuesday. For Paderborn, facing a severely depleted Dortmund squad presents a rare opportunity to snatch a statement result early in the campaign.