The 2026/27 Bundesliga season opens at the Alte Försterei on 29 August 2026, where Union Berlin host Eintracht Frankfurt with both clubs under new management: Mauro Lustrinelli replaced Marie-Louise Eta at Union, while Adi Hütter took over from Albert Riera at Frankfurt. Union finished 11th last season with 39 points, Frankfurt ended eighth with 44. The gap isn't huge but Frankfurt's stronger finish and cup scoreline put them ahead of Union going in.
Union arrive having beaten Braunschweig 4-2 in the DFB-Pokal in August, a win that wasn't always pretty but showed they can find goals from multiple sources. Frankfurt went considerably further in the other direction by thrashing St. Tönis 11-0 in their cup opener. Lower league opposition makes that scoreline hard to translate directly but eleven goals still tells you the attack is in good shape.
Union are without Andrej Ilić and Oliver Burke through injury, removing two options from forward and wide areas and forcing Lustrinelli to lean on Marin Ljubičić for late goals, with the experienced core of Marvin Friedrich and Rani Khedira holding the structure together. Jonathan Burkardt is doubtful with illness and if he doesn't start, Can Uzun inherits the role, with Hütter otherwise having a full squad available.
Lustrinelli has pushed Union toward more proactive, attacking play, with quick ball movement and set piece situations as the main weapons. Quick passing and dead ball delivery suit Friedrich and Khedira, both comfortable organising under pressure. Without Ilić and Burke, most of Union's attacking play will likely run through Ljubičić's movement between the lines, hunting second balls from long throws and corners. Frankfurt under Hütter like to sit back, invite pressure, then spring forward quickly behind a high defensive line, an approach that can look brilliant or chaotic depending on personnel and Burkardt's illness is exactly the kind of variable that tips it toward the latter.
If Burkardt misses out, Uzun becomes Frankfurt's main threat and Union's defensive shape has to shift: rather than pressing high and risking space in behind, they may sit slightly deeper and force Frankfurt to build more deliberately. Khedira's positional discipline is what holds this together and he can slow Frankfurt's transitions if he's switched on but Union can't afford to overcommit or they'll be picked apart on the counter. Friedrich's role at centre back becomes more important than usual with the attack running thin.
Frankfurt lead the historical record with eight wins from 17 meetings to Union's five and they have a habit of scoring on the break even when they're under pressure for long stretches.
Set pieces are Union's clearest edge. At the Alte Försterei, where crowd noise can genuinely disrupt opposition shape on dead balls, their delivery gives Union a route to goal that bypasses the injured forwards entirely. With Ilić and Burke out, Ljubičić will likely be the one attacking the near post from corners, which changes the delivery angles Union would prefer. Frankfurt's high defensive line leaves them exposed to quick free kick routines whenever they concede fouls in dangerous positions and they have a tendency to do exactly that. The new manager factor may also slow both sides in the opening 20 minutes as each coach holds back pressing triggers while reading the opposition's adjustments.
Union Berlin 2-1 Eintracht Frankfurt. Union's home resilience and set piece organisation should offset the loss of Ilić and Burke, particularly if Burkardt's illness leaves Frankfurt forced to start Uzun in his place. The cup win showed Union can score from multiple sources and once Frankfurt commit bodies forward late on, there's a dead ball situation waiting to be punished. Frankfurt will create through transitions but Union at home, well drilled from set pieces and with Khedira controlling the midfield tempo, have enough to win it through a set piece in the second half, particularly if Burkardt misses out.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
