SC Paderborn ended the 23rd matchday of the 2. Bundesliga with a 5‑2 win over Hertha BSC. The Paderborner took an early lead and kept control of the first half, finishing it 3‑1 ahead. Sebastian Klaas opened the scoring in the seventh minute, followed by Tjark Scheller in the 20th and Nick Bätzner in the 45th. Hertha managed to cut the deficit with Luca Schüler in the 39th, but the home side stayed in charge.
In the second half Paderborn extended the lead. Mika Baur converted a penalty in the 65th minute and Raphael Obermair scored in the 68th. Hertha got a fourth goal via Josip Brekalo shortly thereafter, but could not change the outcome. The gap proved too wide, and the hosts secured a deserved victory.
The win moves Paderborn up to fourth place in the table while Hertha slides down to seventh. Paderborn will face 1. FC Kaiserslautern next Saturday, and Hertha will play Nürnberg the following day. In parallel fixtures Sunday afternoon, Preußen Münster lost 2‑3 to 1. FC Kaiserslautern, and Hannover 96 drew 0‑0 with Dynamo Dresden.
