FC Schalke 04 vs SC Paderborn 07 Preview – Match Preview
Schalke are still one of the main teams fighting for promotion in the 2. Bundesliga. They are in 2nd place with 28 points after 13 matches and have conceded only seven goals.
Miron Muslic’s team won all three league matches in October, but their form has dipped a bit in November. They started the month with a 2-1 away loss to Karlsruher, even though they were leading for 76 minutes. Kenan Karaman scored their only goal from the penalty spot in the second half.
Schalke responded well in the next round with a 1-0 home win against Elversberg, but last weekend they couldn’t beat mid-table side Munster, and the match ended 0-0. Schalke still created better chances with 1.07–0.52 xG and 14–5 shots.
Paderborn are the current league leaders after 13 rounds, with nine wins, two draws and two losses. They have not lost any of their away matches this season.
They were on an amazing eight-match winning streak from mid-September until last weekend, when they lost 2-0 to Hannover. It was a deserved defeat, with Paderborn producing only 0.86 xG while Hannover created 1.67 xG and had more shots on target (9–4).
Paderborn also performed well in the German Cup in late October. They held strong favourites Bayer Leverkusen to a 1-1 draw, but eventually lost 4-2 in extra time.
Match Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | FC Schalke 04 vs SC Paderborn 07 |
| Competition | 2. Bundesliga |
| Date (Today) | 28 Nov 2025 |
| Kick-off | 11:00 PM IST (17:30 UTC) |
| Venue | VELTINS-Arena, Gelsenkirchen |
| City | Germany |
Head-to-Head Stats
| Match Player | FC Schalke 04 Win | SC Paderborn 07 Win | Draw |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 |
FC Schalke 04 vs SC Paderborn 07 – last 5 head-to-head encounters
| Date | Competition | Home/Away | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03 May 2025 | 2. Bundesliga | Schalke (H) | Schalke 0–2 Paderborn |
| 07 Dec 2024 | 2. Bundesliga | Paderborn (H) | Paderborn 2–4 Schalke |
| 09 Mar 2024 | 2. Bundesliga | Schalke (H) | Schalke 3–3 Paderborn |
| 30 Sep 2023 | 2. Bundesliga | Paderborn (H) | Paderborn 3–1 Schalke |
| 19 Feb 2022 | 2. Bundesliga | Schalke (H) | Schalke 2–0 Paderborn |
FC Schalke 04 – last 5 Matches
| Date | Competition | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Nov 2025 | 2. Bundesliga | Preußen Münster | 0 – 0 (Draw) |
| 08 Nov 2025 | 2. Bundesliga | SV Elversberg | 1 – 0 (Win) |
| 01 Nov 2025 | 2. Bundesliga | Karlsruher SC | 1 – 2 (Loss) |
| 19 Oct 2025* | 2. Bundesliga | (not in last 5 listed) | – (data not fully on Sofascore last 5) |
| 12 Oct 2025* | 2. Bundesliga | (not in last 5 listed) | – (data not fully on Sofascore last 5) |
SC Paderborn 07 – last 5 Matches
| Date | Competition | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Nov 2025 | 2. Bundesliga | Hannover 96 | 0 – 2 (Loss) |
| 09 Nov 2025 | 2. Bundesliga | 1. FC Magdeburg | 0 – 1 (Win) |
| 02 Nov 2025 | 2. Bundesliga | SpVgg Greuther Fürth | 2 – 1 (Win) |
| 30 Oct 2025 | DFB-Pokal | Bayer Leverkusen | 2 – 4 (Loss, after extra time) |
| 18 Oct 2025 | 2. Bundesliga | Arminia Bielefeld | 4 – 3 (Win) |
FC Schalke 04 vs SC Paderborn 07 Team Comparison
| Team | Pos | Played | W-D-L | Points | Goals Scored | Goals Conceded | Goal Diff | Form (Last 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schalke 04 | 2 | 13 | 8-4-1 | 28 | 18 | 7 | +11 | W-L-W-W-D |
| Paderborn 07 | 1 | 13 | 9-2-2 | 29 | 23 | 14 | +9 | W-W-W-W-L |
FC Schalke 04 vs SC Paderborn 07: Team strengths vs risks
| Team | Strengths | Risks |
|---|---|---|
| FC Schalke 04 | Schalke have the strongest defence in the league, conceding only seven goals so far. They are very solid at home, playing with high energy and good organisation. Their midfield stays compact and wins the ball well, while Karaman remains a reliable attacking threat. Overall, Schalke handle tight, low-scoring matches with confidence. | Schalke do not score as freely as other top sides and can struggle to break down defensive teams. They rely heavily on Karaman for goals, and their attacking momentum has dipped slightly in recent weeks. |
| SC Paderborn 07 | Paderborn are the strongest attacking side among the top teams and move the ball quickly in transitions. They are excellent on counter-attacks, unbeaten in away matches, and have multiple players contributing goals rather than depending on one striker. Their wing play is fast and dangerous. | Paderborn’s defence is less stable, having conceded more than double Schalke’s goals. Their full-backs push high, leaving space behind, and they can be exposed on set pieces. Their aggressive attacking approach sometimes leads to turnovers, and their recent loss to Hannover shows they can be stopped by organised teams. |
FC Schalke 04 vs SC Paderborn 07 Team News & Lineup
FC Schalke 04 (4-4-2):
Team news:
Defender Timo Becker will not return anytime soon because he has an internal ligament tear. Another centre-back, Tomas Kalas, is also out as he is not fully fit. Striker Christian Goumis is unavailable due to a hamstring injury, and Emil Hojlund is doubtful because of heel pain.
SC Paderborn 07 (3-4-2-1):
Team news:
FC Schalke 04 vs SC Paderborn 07 Match Prediction
Paderborn have not lost any away match and have given away only three goals in six away games. Schalke are the strongest defensive team in the 2. Bundesliga, so this match in Gelsenkirchen is likely to be low scoring.
| Market Result + BTTS | Pick | Why | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match Result + BTTS | Draw & BTTS: No | Both teams are strong defensively. Schalke have conceded only seven goals all season, while Paderborn have allowed just three goals away from home. A low-scoring draw looks likely. | ★★★★☆ |
| Clean Sheet | Either team clean sheet – Yes | Schalke’s home defence is extremely strong, and Paderborn’s away defence is also tight. One side keeping a clean sheet is very possible in this low-scoring matchup. | ★★★★☆ |
| HT/FT | Draw / Draw | Both teams play cautious first halves, and with two organised defences, neither may take early risks. The game can remain balanced throughout. | ★★★☆☆ |
| Total Goals (safer) | Under 2.5 | Schalke are the best defensive team in the league, and Paderborn are unbeaten away with solid defensive numbers. All signs point to a tight, low-goal match. | ★★★★☆ |
| Exact Margin (long shot) | Draw by 0 goals (0-0) | Both sides have elite defensive records, and recent form suggests difficulty in creating clear chances. A 0-0 scoreline is a realistic long-shot outcome. | ★★★☆☆ |
