By Rich

Linus Gechter is an 18-year-old centre-back for Hertha Berlin. Gechter was born on February 27, 2004 in Berlin, Germany and spent his youth career playing for Hertha Zehlendorf from 2014 to 2015, and Hertha BSC from 2015 to 2021. He began training with Hertha’s senior side in 2021, and made his professional debut for the club on September 12, 2021, in a 3:1 win over VfL Bochum. Gechter has also made 6 appearances for Germany’s U16 and U18 squads since 2019.

By Rich

​A single goal late in the match gave hosts SV Werder Bremen a victory on Friday over visitors Hertha Berlin. It was Bremen’s Niclas Füllkrug, the league’s top scorer, who found the net in the 85th minute, ending his club’s 2-game winless streak. The win was Bremen’s second home win of the season, and their first clean sheet at home since May 2021. The biggest match on Saturday will likely be the late game between hosts Eintracht Frankfurt and visitors Borussia Dortmund, who are separated by just 1 point in the top half of the table. The hosts have picked up more points (12) than any other Bundesliga team in their last 5 outings, and last week’s 3:1 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach drove them into the table’s 4th spot. The club is also coming off a 2:1 UEFA Champions League win over Marseille on Tuesday. Their opponents are coming off a midweek draw with Champions League opponents Manchester City, which extended their unbeaten streak to 3 matches in all competitions. Dortmund striker Anthony Modeste is in line to make his 200th Bundesliga appearance, while captain Marco Reus is still doubtful following an ankle problem. Dortmund have defeated Frankfurt more often (47 times) than they have beaten any other Bundesliga team, and Frankfurt coach Oliver Glasner has lost all 6 games his teams have contested against Dortmund. The positions at the top of the table will not be settled until Sunday, however, when Union Berlin host Gladbach and Freiburg travel to Gelsenkirchen. Union Berlin forward Sheraldo Becker is surely keen to end a 4-game Bundesliga goal drought, and his odds of doing so are even higher in the absence of Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer. Union were shocked by a 2:1 loss last weekend at Bochum, but remain 1 point clear of Bayern at the top of the table, depending on the outcome of Saturday’s Bayern - Mainz match. Union are on an 11-game unbeaten streak at home, while Gladbach are winless in their last 3 competitive games. Freiburg are currently 3rd in the league, only 2 points behind Union, and are coming off a 1:1 draw in the UEFA Europa League against Olympiacos. Schalke’s new coach, Thomas Reis, is meanwhile looking for a first win, and his club has only picked up 1 win since their return to the top flight this season. Reis has, however, lost 3 of the 4 games he has overseen against Freiburg while overseeing a club. Freiburg have won more Bundesliga games against Schalke (17) than against any other top-flight team..

By Rich

​Luca Unbehaun is a 21-year-old goalkeeper for Borussia Dortmund. Unbehaun was born on February 27, 2001 in Bochum, Germany, and spent his youth career playing for SC Union-Bergen from 2006 to 2009, VfL Bochum from 2009 to 2016, and Borussia Dortmund from 2016 to 2020. His senior career continued at Dortmund beginning in 2020, where he has so far made 40 appearances for Borussia Dortmund II. Unbehaun has also made 16 appearances for Germany’s U16, U17, U18, and U20 squads since 2016.