“An extraordinary football experience”: 1. FC Union Berlin opens the season against the series champions from Munich

Union finished its mixed debut season in the Bundesliga in ninth place, but set an average attendance record of 8,208 fans. The complete game day will be published on July 16th.

“We are very pleased that the Bundesliga opening game of a season is taking place for the first time in the An der Alten Försterei stadium. Being able to welcome the German champions at home at the start of our second Bundesliga season is something special. Together with our team and our fans, we want to ensure an extraordinary football experience. The anticipation for the game and the new season is correspondingly great,” Union’s sports director Jennifer Zietz was quoted as saying in a club statement.

Upheaval with Marie-Louise Eta

Berliners are going through another upheaval this summer. Marie-Louise Eta, who was able to celebrate relegation with the men’s team as interim coach, succeeds Ailien Poese, who is moving to the youth performance center after successful years with two promotions.

A lot is also happening in the player squad. With Nelly Smolarczyk (19 years old, goalkeeper, from VfL Wolfsburg), Jella Veit (21, defense), Lisanne Gräwe (23, midfield, both from Eintracht Frankfurt), Jill Janssens (22, defense, TSG Hoffenheim) and Leela Egli (19, attack, SC Freiburg), five young newcomers have already been confirmed. Athanasia Moraitou (FC Luzern), Fatma Şakar, Celine Frank, Marina Georgieva and Jenny Hipp (all destination unknown) have left the club.

Last Saturday the team started preparing for the new season in the Oberspree training center, and the move to the new professional training center next to the stadium is planned for the winter. Missing from the first session were Tanja Pawollek, Anna Aehling and Korina Janež, who are still undergoing rehab after their serious injuries, as well as Smolarczyk, who is in action with the German U19s at the European Championships. Dina Orschmann and Silje Skaara Helgesen were sidelined. Alma Aagaard and Katja Orschmann are looking for new clubs and are released for this.

“The summer break was good for all of us, but I’m also happy that we were all on the pitch together for the first time. My feeling during the first session together was very positive and it didn’t feel like a new beginning,” said coach Eta.

Before the league opener against Bayern, Union has five test matches on the agenda. The away games are against Turbine Potsdam (July 11th, 2 p.m.), Sparta Prague (July 18th, 4 p.m.), Carl Zeiss Jena (July 18th, 5:30 p.m.) and Hamburger SV (July 25th, 3 p.m.). Inter Milan will be guests at the Alte Försterei for the dress rehearsal on August 9th (3 p.m.).