Matchday 13: top 3 talking points

Schalke redemption reveals truth

Tighter at the back, more confident in possession and sharp in attack. Schalke were a completely different side in their 4-1 thumping of Mainz on Saturday. The horror show of that midweek embarrassment handed to them by Chelsea was forgotten as Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored a hat-trick, surpassing 100 goals for the club in the process, to return smiles to the Veltins Arena.

While Mainz afforded their hosts a generous amount of space at times, Schalke's ability to get their Dutch striker in the game proved decisive. Schalke's win-lose nature is nothing new, particular for their fans, but the nature of this win against a top-half team suggests there is scope for domestic stability. The Champions League though, looks a competition too far - and that too is not really breaking news. While the defeat to Chelsea is one game, Schalke have only impressed in fits and starts in Europe across the last few campaigns. The Bundesliga though, that's somewhere they can start – and perhaps Roberto Di Matteo is the man to do it.

Buoyant Bremen

Viktor Skripnik hasn't been a part of the Werder Bremen organization for as long as Thomas Schaaf was, but during the 10 years the Ukrainian coach has been involved in the club at various youth posts, he was never a household name. But after this start in charge of the first team, his name has become the first thing associated with the club. He's won three of his first four games, and against Paderborn his side was at their absolute best. They were quicker, keener and more clinical - three traits that haven't been seen in Bremen in far too long.

The confidence he has instilled in the team in such a short space of time is impressive. The squad remains one largely made up of mediocre and inexperienced players, but they've become a team in the space of a month. Hard work has bred a better atmosphere and regular starters such as Zlatko Junuzovic and Felix Kroos have started to lead by example. Youngster Davie Selke has excited in attack and the good feeling is back in Bremen. Frankfurt, Hannover, Gladbach and Dortmund are their final four foes in 2014. On current form, Skripnik's men can be confident of getting close to a double-figure return from that run.

Party over for Paderborn

Most of Paderborn's defeats this season were met by the "end of the honeymoon" headlines. To their credit though, Andre Breitenreiter's men reacted well each time, most recently drawing 2-2 with Dortmund. Against Werder Bremen though, Paderborn were at their worst. They may have lost by the same scoreline on their visit to Munich, but that's a fairly respectable scoreline, opposition considered. In Bremen though, Breitenreiter's men were out of ideas, shape and system.

Raphael Wolf might have had to make a couple of saves, but it was more a case of being brave than outstanding. In midfield, Marvin Bakalorz looked like a man who had been hounded in the media and in attack, Elias Kachunga and Moritz Stoppelkamp were left invisible as the Bundesliga new-boys just couldn't get out. Worse than the individual errors or shortcomings was noticeable absence of Paderborn's brashness, a trait that had so far kept them a surprise. While they may still be in 10th, there are now only four points between them and a relegation spot. Finally, after all the excitement and disbelief, it looks like it's time for Paderborn to sober up.