Sven Michel is back in contention for Paderborn after seven weeks out with an adductor injury. The 36-year-old forward started the 1-0 friendly win over DC United in Washington and gave Ralf Kettemann a timely option ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Stuttgart.
The sporting fact
Michel injured himself while accelerating during Paderborn’s 2-0 pre-season victory at Osnabrück in early August. He had arrived in strong condition after changing his diet and adding individual work beyond the usual training programme.
Kettemann felt the absence. “He was fit, sharp and quick. We lost a good player,” the coach said. “And a good character as well.”
Michel returned to the squad against Hoffenheim on matchday four but did not play. He accepted that decision, while making clear that minutes remain his target.
The trip to the United States was used to push his recovery further. Kettemann paired Michel with Marvin Pieringer from the start against DC United. Michel was active in the narrow win and has made his case for a partial appearance this weekend.
Stuttgart are an unusual opponent in Michel’s long Paderborn career. He has never faced VfB while wearing the SCP shirt. His only two appearances against them came during spells away from the club: for Union Berlin in a 1-1 draw in March 2022, and for Augsburg in a 1-0 defeat in May 2024.
Michel wants to help Paderborn stay in the Bundesliga. He also has club marks within reach. Twenty league appearances this season would take him beyond assistant coach Uwe Hünemeier’s record of 48 top-flight outings for Paderborn. Michel has five Bundesliga goals for the club, one short of Elias Kachunga’s record of six, set in 2015.
Next Spieltag
Paderborn face Stuttgart twice within 18 days, first in the league on Saturday and then in the cup.
