Wolfsburg vs Paderborn Ends Goalless in First Leg of Relegation Play-off

Wolfsburg and Paderborn draw

Paderborn held Wolfsburg to a goalless draw away from home, but Wolfsburg’s 30-year top-flight run remains on the line heading into the return leg.

Wolfsburg held by Paderborn as relegation play-off remains finely balanced...

VfL Wolfsburg and SC Paderborn could not be separated in the first leg of their Bundesliga relegation play-off, finishing 0-0. Dieter Hecking’s Wolfsburg now need an away win on Monday to extend their 30-year run in the top flight.

Germany’s biggest league fixture of the season returned with Paderborn hoping to cause an upset. Only three 2. Bundesliga sides have won this play-off in 18 attempts under the current format.

Paderborn started strongly. Santiago Castaneda reacted after Filip Bilbija’s header was blocked and volleyed at goal, forcing Kamil Grabara into the game’s first save.

Wolfsburg steadied themselves after the early chance and gained control. They gradually increased the pressure in search of an opening goal.

Denis Vavro forced Dennis Seimen into action when his low shot skidded just wide. On the counter, Adam Daghim tested the Paderborn keeper and looked Wolfsburg’s liveliest attacker in the first half.

A Christian Eriksen cross nearly sneaked in at the near post just before half time, giving the hosts momentum heading into the second period.

Paderborn faced the weight of history, with no 2. Bundesliga side winning the home leg of this play-off since 2009. Their hopes of breaking that run with an away win faded quickly.

Wolfsburg kept pressing and sent more shots at Seimen’s goal. Eriksen curled a free-kick toward the corner, but the 20-year-old keeper kept it out.

Kettemann’s late substitutions gave Paderborn a boost in the closing stages. Vavro and Joakim Maehle had to combine to clear Bilbija’s chipped effort off the line.

🛑 FINAL

All to play for on Monday.
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0-0 #WOBSCP#VfLWolfsburg 🟢⚪️ pic.twitter.com/r9X0CBj6vp

— VfL Wolfsburg EN/US 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@VfLWolfsburg_EN) May 21, 2026

Paderborn will take satisfaction from holding out for a 0-0 draw and setting up a tense second leg. The result came at a cost though, as Jonah Sticker was sent off for a second yellow card just before full time.

Wolfsburg were four points adrift of 16th place just weeks before the season ended, so reaching this play-off marks a strong recovery. To stay up, they now have to win two away games in a row for the first time since August 2025.

Paderborn face the challenge of the second-tier curse in this fixture. They will take hope from Union Berlin’s success in 2019 and aim to return to the Bundesliga after six years away.