During the relegation second leg, the mood in Paderborn is emotional and tense. Before the game, thousands marched to the stadium, and excited fans met all over the city. The first half was nerve-wracking – but the hope of promotion is alive.
Before the relegation second leg against Wolfsburg, the mood in Paderborn was emotional and tense at the same time. After the 0-0 draw in the first leg, many fans are now dreaming of a win and a return to the Bundesliga. What’s the mood like in the city? Here you can experience the day.
More nerve-wracking Start in Relegation game
Tense atmosphere in the beer garden on the Kamp
The start of the game was extremely bad for Paderborn – after conceding an early goal, the mood in the beer garden was sour. There are occasional cheers for the SCP. But then there is new hope. Big cheers after an early dismissal for Wolfsburg: the Paderborn team celebrated the yellow-red card in front of the television like it was their own goal. Paderborn now plays in the majority for around 80 minutes. Shortly before the break there was another big celebration: Paderborn equalized in the 38th minute. Everything is open again before the second half.
Shortly before the game – the bars are filling up
Shortly before kick-off, the bars and beer gardens are packed.
Several bars are right next to each other on the Kamp in the middle of Paderborn’s city center and are full. Before that, hundreds of fans are looking forward to the game in the blazing sunshine. Party music is playing even before kick-off.
Miguel Mossa is hoping for a long night.
“If we win today, it will definitely last until 4 a.m.,” says Miguel Mossa, a landlord from Paderborn. The beer garden in front of the pub in the city center is already full. Mossa predicts 3:1 for Paderborn. “I’ve already taken part in two climbs. In the last two to three weeks it’s always been full.”
A few hours until the game: The fan march to the stadium
Thousands of fans welcome the SC Paderborn team bus.
According to the police, 4,000 fans marched together through Paderborn towards the stadium in the early evening to welcome the team at the stadium and give them one last push before kick-off.
Yonas Ansari (left) and Marc Schuster both predict Paderborn.
“The atmosphere is great, everyone is in a great mood,” says Yonas Ansari happily. He watched the fan march with his friends. “That was amazing, I’ve never experienced Paderborn like that before. The atmosphere is good!” He and his friend Marc Schuster are both betting on their SC today. It’s fun to watch the team play: “A young team, a fit team.”
A feverish mood in Paderborn already at midday
Singing together on Monday afternoon: The SC Paderborn fan groups at the fan meeting in the city center.
Hours before kick-off, hope for promotion was already in the air in Paderborn. Blue and black jerseys have dominated the cityscape since midday, and football chants can be heard from bars and cafés. It’s clear: this city is ready for a very special evening of football.
In the warm weather, fans are happy about the free drinks.
Perhaps to calm their nerves, perhaps also to motivate them, SC Paderborn treated their fans to free drinks for half an hour at the fan meeting on the Kamp.
It’s a tense situation ahead of such an important game.
SC fan Jannika from Paderborn
Precautionary plans for victory celebration
After the 0-0 draw in the first leg in Wolfsburg it is clear: everything will be decided on Saturday evening. Whoever wins will play in the first next season football–Bundesliga.
Many Paderborn residents are already planning the next day: If the climb actually succeeds, there will be a celebration on Tuesday on the town hall square. The city has made initial preparations as a precaution.
Our sources:
- Impressions of the reporters on site
- Conversations with fans
- City of Paderborn
- Paderborn police
Broadcast: WDR television, WDR aktuell, May 25, 2026, 4 p.m
Broadcast: WDR television, Current hour, May 25, 20266:45 p.m
