Werder Bremen host SC Paderborn 07 at the Weserstadion on October 17 (13:30 UTC) in Regular Season - 6 of the Bundesliga. Matchday 6 is early enough that the table is still taking shape, but the two sides arrive in different positions. Bremen are seventh, while Paderborn are 15th.

The main factor is the contrast in league form. Bremen are unbeaten in their four most recent Bundesliga fixtures: a 3-1 home win over RB Leipzig on September 5, a 1-1 draw at 1. FC Köln on September 12, a 3-2 home win over FC Augsburg on September 19 and a 2-2 draw at Borussia Dortmund on October 9. That run brings nine goals scored and six conceded. Paderborn have won one of their last four league games, a 3-1 home result against 1899 Hoffenheim on September 20. They lost 1-0 to SC Freiburg on September 5, 3-0 at Dortmund on September 12 and 2-0 at home to VfB Stuttgart on October 10. They have scored three league goals in that stretch and conceded seven.

The head-to-head record is a useful secondary angle. Of nine listed meetings, Bremen have won four, Paderborn two and three have ended level, all of them 2-2, including the most recent on August 8. Goals have been plentiful, with the sides scoring at least three between them in six of the nine games. Daniel Thioune's side will want to turn their league consistency into a home result, while Ralf Kettemann's team will look to rediscover the attacking output they showed against Hoffenheim.

Neither club has reported any unavailable players, so both managers should have full squads to choose from. That should allow each to name the same shape used in their last matches: a 4-2-3-1 for Bremen and a 3-5-2 for Paderborn.

Both teams have shown they can score, and Bremen's home record in the listed fixtures gives this meeting an intriguing contrast of form and standing.