Paderborn’s Improbable Run To The Top Of Bundesliga Will Not Last
With only two matches left in Week 4 of the Bundesliga season, the team at the top is most unexpected. Paderborn is in their first year ever in the top flight and sit at the top of the table after their 2-0 victory over Hannover. They must relish their time at the top because while the fast start may save them from relegation, the first-place standing will be short-lived.
Moritz Stoppelkamp put an exclamation point on the win Saturday with a record-setting goal from just over 90 yards as keeper Ron-Robert Zieler moved forward to join the attack. That goal was Paderborn’s seventh on the year, which is tied for third-most in the Bundesliga this season. It puts them at the top of the table based on a plus-five goal differential. They can be leaped by Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday if they beat Wolfsburg. Borussia Mönchengladbach would have to beat Köln by three to leapfrog Paderborn.
Paderborn could be riding a wave of adrenaline early in the season. However, they are not dealing with play in other competitions. Their summer acquisitions have worked well so far, but they have yet to face a big test. Three of four of their opponents thus far are considered by many to be relegation candidates. Their toughest competition thus far was a draw against Mainz in the opening week of the season. Mainz is second in the Bundesliga table with the same number of points as Paderborn, but with one less goal differential.
Paderborn will get tested in the next three weeks. They will face Bayern Munich next week, who have yet to find their stride and continue to deal with multiple injuries. However, they are near the top of the table as expected and the game is being played in Munich at Allianz Arena. They will then face Mönchengladbach, who finished in the top six last season and have earned points from all three matches this year. A rough three-week stretch ends with a trip to Leverkusen’s BayArena.
Paderborn is about to be tested in their inaugural Bundesliga season. Their fast start may help them in the long run, but the next three weeks will be a true test of their ability. If they can manage points in the next few weeks, then the story will be different. However, Paderborn fans better enjoy the standings now.
Douglas Smith is a soccer writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DFresh39, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.
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