Paderborn end scoreless start with emphatic win over Hoffenheim

Paderborn ended their scoreless start with a convincing 3-1 victory over Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga's final fixture before a long international break. This win marked the Bavarian side's first goal and triumph of the season, leaving Hoffenheim with a second defeat in three days. The visitors dominated the first ten minutes of play, but it wasn't until Oliver Baumann denied Stefano Marino the first goal of the season for the newcomer that Paderborn broke the deadlock.

Vladimír Coufal came close to scoring early in the first half when his deflected effort hit the post. Five minutes later, the home team finally scored with a deflected shot by Santiago Castañeda, who had been without a goal since the previous season. The hosts extended their lead with a second goal by Marino before the half-time break, thanks to a well-worked move involving Adam Daghim.

Despite close chances from both sides, Ralf Kettemann's men sealed the three points with a header from Steffen Tigges just twenty minutes from the end, his first Bundesliga goal since the 2023/24 season's final matchday. Fisnik Asllani came close to reducing Hoffenheim's deficit after coming on, but Conté managed to hit the crossbar with a brilliant strike.

The newly-promoted side climbed past Hoffenheim in the standings and entered the international break in 12th place.