SC Paderborn host Stuttgart in the last 16 of the DFB-Pokal at the Benteler-Arena on Tuesday evening.
The hosts have never won Germany's main domestic cup, while Stuttgart have not lifted it since the 1996-97 campaign.
Match preview
© Reuters
However, Paderborn do have some pedigree in the DFB-Pokal, having reached the quarter-finals in successive years as recently as 2018 and 2019.
The first of those occasions - which was the first time the club had ever reached the last eight of the competition - saw them heavily beaten 6-0 by the eventual runners-up Bayern Munich, but their 2-0 defeat at the same stage one season later to a Hamburger SV side who they later pipped to promotion must remain a disappointment.
Lukas Kwasniok, who took over as head coach of Paderborn in July 2021, will sense an opportunity to cause a minor upset on Tuesday, with their forthcoming opponents certainly not in the greatest form at present.
While promotion will remain the 41-year-old's priority this season, a cup run is always a welcome bonus for a club of Paderborn's relatively small size, with a third appearance in the quarter-finals in six seasons potentially awaiting them.
© Reuters
Indeed, Stuttgart have drawn two and lost one since returning to action this month, although they put in a spirited performance to only fall to a 2-1 defeat away to RB Leipzig on Friday night.
With VfL Bochum and Hertha Berlin both losing on Saturday, Bruno Labbadia's side remain outside of the Bundesliga's relegation places on goal difference, which should help them travel to Paderborn in midweek without too much stress on their shoulders.
Stuttgart have not reached the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal for seven seasons now, having twice lost in the final since their famous 2-0 win against Energie Cottbus in the 1996-97 final.
Labbadia was in charge for the second of those final defeats, when his side were beaten 3-2 by Bayern in 2013, so he would love to go one better in that regard during his second spell at the club.
Team News
© Reuters
Paderborn will remain without Felix Platte and Sebastian Klaas due to back and knee injuries respectively, but Kwasniok appears to have a fully fit squad to select from otherwise.
The Pole could be tempted to make a few changes, with second choice goalkeeper Leopold Zingerle likely to replace Jannik Huth between the posts.
Likewise, Labbadia may want to provide some of his fringe players with an opportunity to impress him during the early stages of his second spell, with Tanguy Coulibaly likely to come into the starting XI.
However, the 56-year-old's options are severely limited by injuries to Silas, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Tiago Tomas, Dan-Axel Zagadou, Borna Sosa and Laurin Ulrich.
SC Paderborn possible starting lineup:
Zingerle; Rohr, Hunemeier, Hoffmeier; Justvan, Mehlem, Schallenberg, Obermair; Muslija, Pieringer, Conteh
Stuttgart possible starting lineup:
Bredlow; Stenzel, Anton, Ito, Vagnoman; Ahamada, Millot; Egloff, Nartey, Coulibaly; Guirassy
We say: SC Paderborn 1-1 Stuttgart
Paderborn defeated Werder Bremen on penalties in the previous round, and we can envisage them taking another Bundesliga opponent all of the way on Tuesday night.
The visitors have only won three league games all season and are unlikely to arrive with much confidence, especially with the amount of injuries to key personnel which they currently have.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Brett Curtis
