Union Berlin approaches the DFB-Pokal opener against Eintracht Braunschweig on August 23 with an unresolved goalkeeper battle, as three keepers compete for the starting spot but none are fully fit.
Frederik Rönnow, the usual first choice, is still not at 100 percent due to an adductor injury and a temporarily bandaged left arm. He missed parts of training camp and did not complete every session, making his availability for the cup clash uncertain.
Matheo Raab, the number two, continues to recover from a hand injury sustained during his Bundesliga debut in Freiburg last season, which ended his campaign early. He has not regained full training load and remains limited in his availability.
As a result, Carl Klaus, the third-choice goalkeeper, has emerged as the frontrunner. The 32-year-old appears the fittest, exudes confidence, and impressed with strong performances at the end of last season. He was stable during the training camp in Styria and used his summer contract extension to stake his claim in the competition.
Meanwhile, U19 goalkeeper Fritz Gagzow trains with the first team and showed promise in the 2:2 draw against Cagliari. However, the 17-year-old is expected to gain further experience in the youth ranks before pushing for senior opportunities.
According to Bild.de, Klaus currently holds the best chances to start in goal against Braunschweig, as the goalkeeper situation at Union remains unprecedentedly open just two weeks before the first competitive match.
Check out the latest fixtures on our fixtures page to see when Union Berlin faces Eintracht Braunschweig in the DFB-Pokal.
