​By Rich

​Laurenz Dehl is a 19-year-old midfielder for 1. FC Union Berlin. Dehl was born on December 12, 2001 in Berlin, Germany, and spent his youth career playing for SV Blau-Gelb Berlin before joining Union Berlin’s youth academy in 2011. He signed a 2-year professional contract in the summer of 2019, and then joined Hallescher FC on a season-long loan in July 2020. He made his senior debut on September 20, 2020 as a substitute in a 2:0 away win over 1. FC Magdeburg. He scored his first professional goal on October 21, 2020 against SV Meppen, and went on to score 2 additional goals in 22 appearances in the 2020-21 season.

​By Rich

​1 goal each from Andrej Kramaric and Sebastian Rudy propelled Hoffenheim to a 2:0 win over visitors Hertha Berlin on Friday. Kramaric’s goal came in the 19th minute, and Rudy followed with his goal in the 36th minute. The final blow was struck for Hertha when Dedryck Boyata was sent off for a late tackle on Angelo Stiller in the 76th minute, allowing the hosts to finish the match with their 4th win of the season. Kramaric has been involved in 8 of Hoffenheim’s 19 goals this season, and has scored 2 of his last 3 Bundesliga goals against Hertha. On Saturday, all eyes will turn to the German capital’s other Bundesliga club, when Union Berlin host Bayern in what may be the most competitive match of the weekend. Union have been enjoying a strong season thus far, and are just 1 point outside the league’s top 4. Much of that success is owed to striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who himself is in 4th place in the scorers’ table. Awoniyi even helped his club seal a win over Waldhof Mannheim in DFB Pokal competition. Union are unbeaten in 21 home Bundesliga competitions, and Awoniyi is averaging 1 goal every 93 minutes in the Bundesliga. Although Bayern have been in their usual top form this season, they suffered a stunning 5:0 defeat to Borussia Mönchengladbach on Wednesday. The defeat was the first time that Bayern had failed to score a single goal after 85 competitive matches, a European record. Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski is set to make his 360th Bundesliga appearance on Saturday, while teammate Serge Gnabry’s 6 goals in 9 rounds of fixtures make this season’s start the best so far of his career. Meanwhile, 2 other clubs who also play on Saturday could leapfrog Bayern in the table should Union prevail. Dortmund will host nearby Köln, while Freiburg will host league-last Fürth. Dortmund will have to do without striker Erling Haaland, who is still recovering from injury, while opponents Köln are benefiting from a return-to-form Anthony Modeste, who has scored a league-high 4 headers. Freiburg will be looking to extend their unbeaten streak to 12, and their 19 points so far this season are a club record. Fürth’s start to the season is their worst ever in the Bundesliga, but are still 4 games short of rival Nürnberg’s Bundesliga record for the most consecutive defeats. Looking ahead to Sunday, Gladbach defender Joe Scally is expected to continue his streak of starting every match as the club looks to continue its unbeaten-at-home streak this season. Although their opponents, Bochum, have won 2 consecutive matches, it’s been 14 years since they won 3 consecutive matches in the top flight.

By Rich

Marvin Stefaniak is a 26-year-old midfielder for VfL Wolfsburg. Stefaniak was born on February 3, 1995 in Hoyerswerda, Germany, and spent his youth career playing for Hoyerswerdaer SV 1919 and SC Borea Dresden before joining Dynamo Dresden in 2011. He was promoted to the first team in 2013, and made his debut in 2014. In September 2016, VfL Wolfsburg announced the signing of Stefaniak for a transfer fee of 2 million Euros, and he joined the club in July 2017. Between 2018 and 2020, he played on loan for 1. FC Nürnberg and SpVgg Greuther Fürth, and for Dynamo Dresden on loan for the 2020-21 season. Stefaniak also made 14 appearances for Germany’s U17, U20, and U21 squads between 2011 and 2016, scoring 4 goals.