By Rich

Jan Thielmann is a 19-year-old right winger for 1. FC Köln. Thielmann was born on May 26, 2002 in Föhren, Germany, and spent his youth career playing for the youth community JSG Hetzerath/SV Föhren/Bekond before switching to the youth team of Eintracht Trier for the 2014-15 season. He eventually moved to the U17s of 1. FC Köln for the 2017-18 season. He was promoted to the U19s in the 2019-20 season, and made his professional debut for Köln on December 14, 2019 in a 2:0 Bundesliga win over Bayer 04 Leverkusen, becoming the first footballer born in 2002 to play in the Bundesliga. He signed his first professional contract in January 2020, and scored his first goal as a professional on December 5, 2020 in a 2:2 draw against VfL Wolfsburg.

By Rich

​Hosts Borussia Dortmund edged out visitors TSG 1899 Hoffenheim with a 3:2 victory that went down to the match’s final seconds. The game’s first goal didn’t come until the 49th minute, when Dortmund’s Gio Reyna scored on the same day he became the youngest player to make 50 Bundesliga appearances. Hoffenheim’s Christoph Baumgartner equalized in the 61st minute, and Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham made it 2:1 with a half-volley into the bottom corner. Hoffenheim tied the score again in the 90th minute when Munas Dabbur put away a corner on to the far post, but Erling Haaland sealed the victory in extra time with a successful shot from just a few meters out.  Haaland became the youngest player to score 43 Bundesliga goals, having scored them in just 46 games, and the win puts Dortmund in first place at the top of the table going into the rest of this weekend’s contests. Those contests will include a few between clubs that are close neighbors in the table. Bielefeld will host Frankfurt, and both clubs are looking for their first victory of the season. Bielefeld have drawn each of their first 2 games, but are coming off a victory over Bayreuth in the first round of the DFB Pokal. Frankfurt’s new coach, Oliver Glasner, is coming off elimination from the Pokal against Borussia Dortmund and a goalless draw last weekend against Augsburg. Frankfurt did emerge victorious, 5:1, the last time the two clubs met. Köln will host nearby Bochum, and each time has accumulated 3 points so far. Köln’s Anthony Modeste will be looking to score in 3 consecutive Bundesliga matches for the first time since 2017, and the club has been impressive so far this season, defeating Hertha Berlin 3:1 on Matchday 1 and narrowly losing to Bayern 3:2 last weekend. Bochum had a notable 2:0 win over Mainz last weekend, and the 2 goalscorers are expected to start on Saturday. The clubs last met in the Bundesliga in April 2010, when Köln won 2:0. Saturday will also feature the derby between hosts Stuttgart and nearby Freiburg. The hosts have had a wild ride this season, having started the season with a 5:1 win over Fürth before losing 4:0 against Leipzig. Although Freiburg have been without striker Nils Petersen, who was sidelined with a knee injury, they managed a 2:1 victory over Borussia Dortmund, and could feature summer arrival Maximilian Eggestein as they look to extend their unbeaten streak. Looking ahead to Sunday, two of the league’s top clubs will face off when Leipzig travel to Wolfsburg. The hosts are the only club to have won their first 2 matches this season, but they are winless in 5 Bundesliga matches against Leipzig. 

By Rich

Robin Luca Kehr is a 21-year-old forward for SpVgg Greuther Fürth. Kehr was born on February 22, 2000 in Pinneberg, Germany, and spent his youth career playing for VfL Pinneberg, Kummerfelder SV , FC St Pauli, and Borussia Dortmund. His senior career began with Greuther Fürth’s senior and reserve squads in 2019, and he made his professional debut with Fürth on October 4, 2020, in a 2. Bundesliga match against the Würzburger Kickers, coming on as a substitute in the 78th minute for Jamie Leweling. Kehr also played for Germany’s U17 and U18 squads in 2016 and 2017, scoring 3 goals in 7 appearances.