The Arminia vs Paderborn game is turning out to be a critical game this weekend with both teams struggling over vital points at opposite extremes of the league table.
Paderborn, who heads to promotion-hunting Arminia Bievefeld coached by Mitch Kniat, may bring far reaching consequences to both clubs. Arminia are struggling to keep out of the relegation zone, whereas Paderborn are trying to boost their standing in the promotion race.
Arminia began the year on a good note. The team did not win all their initial five matches but made a slight gap above the relegation spots. The latest outcomes have however slowed them.
Bielefeld have now suffered a three game losing streak that has seen them decline to 12 th in the table. Their difference to the automatic relegation positions has now reduced to two points making the pressure more intense in the run up to the weekend.
Their recent game was a close 1 goal loss to league leaders Schalke. Arminia still performed competitively even though they lost and had the opportunity to have an equalizer disallowed towards the end of the match.
Coach Mitch Kniat will want his players to continue such fighting performance when they are at home ground.
Paderborn, under the management of Ralf Kettemann, go into the match better off. The squad has not lost any of their previous five matches and they are still well entangled in the promotion mix.
Nevertheless, Paderborn have been weak in upholding the consistency that made them pace setters at the beginning of the season. They have already been ranked fourth as there are still other teams right behind them in the rankings.
