Union Berlin kicked off summer training with a bang: on July 4 2026 the side defeated Oberliga side FSV Optik Rathenow 12‑2. New manager Mauro Lustrinelli celebrated his debut at Vogelgesang Stadium while roughly 500 Union supporters cheered the result.
How did the match unfold?
Rain poured, yet the game unfolded like an open book. Andrej Ilic opened the scoring in the 15th minute and repeated it in the 34th. Linus Güther struck in the 56th and 76th minutes, Marin Ljubicic added goals in the 72nd and 78th. Derrick Köhn, Livan Burcu, Oliver Burke, Andras Schäfer, Ilyas Ansah and Tom Rothe completed the 12‑goal onslaught. For Rathenow, Maxim Langer (22.) and Ousmane Sannoh (44.) found the net.
Why does the result matter for Union?
A 12‑goal win instantly gave Lustrinelli confidence in his tactics. He used 22 players and swapped the entire lineup at halftime, indicating a desire to test squad depth. Notably, recent signings Zeno van den Bosch (Royal Antwerpen) and Marvin Friedrich (Borussia Mönchengladbach) started the match, showing they are already in the manager’s plans. Union currently sits 11th in the Bundesliga with 39 points, 10 wins, 9 draws and 15 losses from 34 games – a position they aim to improve.
What does this mean for the upcoming season?
The friendly win hints at increased attacking firepower. Defensively, the team still needs work – this season they have conceded 58 goals while scoring only 44 (‑14 goal difference). Being 50 points behind leaders Bayern Munich underlines the challenge ahead. The next preseason fixture is set: Sunday at 15:30 CET Union travels to Grün‑Weiß Lübben in the Spreewald.
Which players could shape the season?
The Ilic‑Ljubicic duo proved in the rain they can decide games. Van den Bosch and Friedrich, both recent arrivals, were given immediate responsibility – a sign Lustrinelli is banking on their integration. If they carry the form from the test match into the Bundesliga, Union could markedly improve its offensive record and close the gap to the league leaders.
