Union Berlin vs Eintracht Frankfurt: Two New Eras Meet at the Alte Försterei

There is a sense of renewal around both sides as Union Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt open their Bundesliga campaigns against each other in Berlin.
Union finished 11th last season with 39 points, while Frankfurt ended the previous campaign eighth with 44, but neither club begins this one under the same coach.
Mauro Lustrinelli has taken charge of Union after leading FC Thun to the Swiss title, while Adi Hütter has returned to Frankfurt for a second spell in charge.
Both coaches have already watched their teams win in the DFB-Pokal, with Union recovering twice before beating Eintracht Braunschweig 4-2 and Frankfurt demolishing St. Tönis 11-0.
The recent meetings add another layer, because Frankfurt have not beaten Union in their last five encounters, while the previous meeting in Berlin finished 1-1.
That makes this less about last season’s table and more about which new project can establish its identity first.

Lustrinelli has made it clear that he wants Union to play with more attacking energy, and his first competitive match offered an early glimpse of that ambition.
The Swiss coach normally favours a 4-4-2, while his side’s direct approach means quick attacks, crosses and long throws are likely to form an important part of the home game plan.
Hütter expects something similar from Union, describing them as a team that wants to move quickly into dangerous areas and create pressure through direct deliveries.
Frankfurt themselves have changed their basic structure, moving from the previous 4-3-3 towards a 4-2-2-2 during Hütter’s opening weeks with the squad.
The visitors therefore have their own tactical adjustment to make, particularly when attempting to control the midfield without losing the attacking width and movement that made them dangerous last season.
The central dilemma is whether Union’s direct pressure can disrupt Frankfurt’s possession structure before the visitors’ technical players find space between the lines.

Personnel issues could influence the balance, especially in goal and across the attacking options.
Union’s official match preview lists Oliver Burke, Andrej Ilić, Stanley Nsoki and Marvin Friedrich as unavailable, while Bundesliga’s matchday report also lists Robert Skov among the absentees and Frederik Rønnow as out with a groin problem.
Ilić is particularly relevant because he was Union’s leading scorer and provider last season with five goals and nine assists, although the club describes him as carrying a fitness concern rather than simply ruling him out on injury grounds.
Frankfurt arrive without Nnamdi Collins and Jessic Ngankam, while Ansgar Knauff, Hugo Larsson and Ritsu Dōan are also unavailable according to Frankfurt’s latest opponent report.
Hütter additionally confirmed that Larsson and Dōan picked up minor muscular problems, while Knauff suffered a thigh injury during the week.
Jonathan Burkardt, meanwhile, trained with the group after being taken off in the cup and Hütter expected him to be available, giving Frankfurt an important attacking option.

The mood around the match has been notably positive, but neither coaching staff is pretending that the opening fixture will be straightforward.
Lustrinelli expects an energetic, back-and-forth contest and said the team that invests more could ultimately prevail, while Hütter has called for a top performance from the first minute.
Frankfurt’s 11-0 cup victory has created confidence, but Hütter has stressed that the Bundesliga opener will demand considerably more physicality and control than the cup mismatch against St. Tönis.
Union have a different source of momentum after their 4-2 comeback at Braunschweig, with Marin Ljubičić emerging as the standout performer after scoring twice and assisting once from the bench.
The press around Berlin has also highlighted the goalkeeping battle, with Matheo Raab pushing for the starting role while long-time number one Rønnow returns from injury.
With a sold-out Alte Försterei and two coaches beginning new Bundesliga chapters, the first serious question is not who has the bigger squad but whose ideas survive the opening pressure.

🚑 Injury & Availability Report

Union Berlin

Union Berlin
Long-Term / IR	Andrik Markgraf	Knee injury; ruled out
Out / Ruled Out	Oliver Burke	Achilles injury
Out / Ruled Out	Stanley Nsoki	Calf injury
Out / Ruled Out	Robert Skov	Muscular injury
Out / Ruled Out	Frederik Rønnow	Groin injury
Questionable	Andrej Ilić	Illness; fitness concern

Eintracht Frankfurt

Eintracht Frankfurt
Out / Ruled Out	Nnamdi Collins	Back injury
Out / Ruled Out	Jessic Ngankam	Hamstring injury
Questionable	Noel Aseko	Knee issue; in contention after training
Questionable	Ritsu Dōan	Muscular issue
Questionable	Hugo Larsson	Muscular issue

The medical picture is not identical to the broader availability list, so injuries and fitness doubts are separated here rather than mixing them with tactical or disciplinary absences.
Union’s latest official opponent information confirms Burke, Ilić, Nsoki and Friedrich as unavailable, while the Bundesliga matchday report identifies Markgraf, Nsoki, Rønnow, Skov and Friedrich in its unavailable group.
For Frankfurt, Collins and Ngankam are listed as out by Bundesliga, while Aseko, Dōan and Larsson are doubts rather than definite absences.
Hütter specifically said Dōan and Larsson would sit this one out as a precaution, while Aseko was training daily and could be involved.
Ilić is kept in the questionable category because the latest Union report describes him as carrying an issue rather than providing the same definitive injury status as the other absentees.
No additional players have been added without current team or Bundesliga evidence.

📋 Projected Matchday Elevens

The official starting XIs had not yet been released when this preview was prepared, so the tables below are projected lineups and must not be presented as confirmed teams.
Bundesliga’s matchday projection has both Union Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt using a 4-4-2 structure.
Union are projected to start Matheo Raab behind Josip Juranović, Leopold Querfeld, Zeno Van Den Bosch and Tom Rothe.
The midfield quartet is expected to feature Woo-Yeong Jeong, Aljoscha Kemlein, captain Rani Khedira and Livan Burcu, with Emmanuel Latte Lath and Marin Ljubičić leading the attack.
Frankfurt’s projected side has Kauã Santos in goal, with Elias Baum, Robin Koch, Otávio and Keita Kosugi forming the defensive line and Mario Götze included centrally.
The confirmed teams are scheduled to be published around 60 minutes before kickoff, so these selections should be updated once the clubs release their official XIs.

Union Berlin

Union Berlin — Projected XI & Key Personnel
Goalkeeper	Matheo Raab	Projected starter in goal
Defender	Josip Juranović	Right-back
Defender	Leopold Querfeld	Centre-back and defensive organiser
Defender	Zeno Van Den Bosch	Centre-back
Defender	Tom Rothe	Left-back
Midfielder	Woo-Yeong Jeong	Wide midfield role
Midfielder	Aljoscha Kemlein	Central midfield
Midfielder	Rani Khedira	Central midfield and captain
Midfielder	Livan Burcu	Wide midfield role
Forward	Emmanuel Latte Lath	Centre-forward
Forward	Marin Ljubičić	Two goals and one assist in the cup win
Key Personnel	Marin Ljubičić	Outstanding impact against Braunschweig
Head Coach	Mauro Lustrinelli	Bundesliga debut with Union Berlin

Eintracht Frankfurt

Eintracht Frankfurt — Projected XI & Key Personnel
Goalkeeper	Kauã Santos	Projected goalkeeper
Defender	Elias Baum	Right-back
Defender	Robin Koch	Centre-back and captain
Defender	Otávio	Centre-back
Defender	Keita Kosugi	Left-back
Midfielder	Ayoube Amaimouni-Echghouyab	Central or wide midfield role
Midfielder	Mario Götze	Creative midfield role
Midfielder	Raphael Onyedika	Central midfield
Midfielder	Can Uzun	Attacking midfield role
Forward	Younes Ebnoutalib	Forward
Forward	Jonathan Burkardt	Centre-forward
Key Personnel	Can Uzun	Important attacking link in Hütter’s new structure
Head Coach	Adi Hütter	Returns for a second spell at Frankfurt

🎯 Match Points That Matter

• Ljubičić’s opportunity: his two-goal, one-assist display against Braunschweig has put him firmly into the conversation for the opening-day attack.
• Frankfurt’s new structure: Hütter has been moving the team from a 4-3-3 towards a 4-2-2-2, making the midfield battle especially interesting.
• Union’s direct route: Lustrinelli wants fast forward play, while Hütter expects long throws and frequent balls into the penalty area.
• The goalkeeper question: Rønnow’s injury creates an opening for Raab, who has been pushing for a bigger role.
• Burkardt’s fitness: Hütter expects the striker to be available after training with the team on Thursday.
• Recent head-to-head: Union are unbeaten in the last five meetings, although Frankfurt lead the overall record with 10 wins to Union’s five across 22 encounters.

⚔️ The Tactical Pressure Point

The most intriguing contest may develop whenever Frankfurt have to defend Union’s first wave of pressure.
Lustrinelli’s 4-4-2 gives Union two natural forwards and a straightforward route towards the final third, while the wide players can provide early service into the penalty area.
Frankfurt’s new 4-2-2-2 should give Götze and Uzun freedom to occupy pockets behind the front line, but it also requires the double pivot to prevent Union from attacking directly through the middle.
Querfeld and Van Den Bosch will therefore have to manage Burkardt’s movement while remaining alert to Ebnoutalib and the second wave from midfield.
At the opposite end, Frankfurt’s technical quality could become decisive if they can bypass Union’s first pressure and force Khedira and Kemlein to defend facing their own goal.
The atmosphere at the Alte Försterei should make the opening stages particularly intense, but the side that controls the transition moments may ultimately dictate the rhythm of this new Bundesliga chapter.

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