Union Berlin goalkeeper Matheo Raab has made a surprising comeback from a broken hand and is now discussing the injury. The 27-year-old returned to goal for the Iron Ones in their DFB-Pokal match at Eintracht Braunschweig, contributing to a 4-2 victory. His return came sooner than many anticipated.
Matheo Raab fractured his hand in last season's Bundesliga match against SC Freiburg. He heard a crack and felt immediate pain but stayed on the pitch until the final whistle. "Because of my past, I'm pain-resilient and can push through," Raab said. The subsequent rehabilitation lasted several weeks and was a mental challenge for the keeper. The high of his Bundesliga debut gave way to hard work in the gym.
His appearance in the cup against Braunschweig marked the end of this phase. The coach and goalkeeping coach had signaled their trust in him for this match beforehand. The starting goalkeeper for the upcoming Bundesliga match on Saturday against Eintracht Frankfurt is still undecided. Raab assumes, however, that his selection was not a one-off decision. The current squad list shows him as a firm part of the roster.
Matheo Raab moved to Union Berlin in the summer with the clear perspective of becoming the long-term number one. "I give my all every day for that," emphasized the goalkeeper. He has brought this attitude from his previous clubs. His contract with the Köpenick club runs for several more years. The club is banking on his development, even in competition with the other keepers in the team.
Raab's comeback coincides with an important phase of pre-season. Union Berlin aims to compete in the upper half of the table again after a mixed previous year. The early results, including the cup win, are cause for optimism. The full fixtures list for the new season holds further challenges.
The victory in Braunschweig was an important signal for manager Nenad Bjelica's team. The side showed attacking prowess and managed to turn around an early deficit. Besides Raab's return, goals from Benedict Hollerbach and Kevin Volland were also decisive. The defense, led by captain Christopher Trimmel, still has to prove itself in the Bundesliga.
The first home game of the season takes place this weekend at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. The opponent is Eintracht Frankfurt, a traditionally difficult rival. For the fans, it's the first league match since May. The current standings table will begin to take shape after this matchday. Union Berlin starts with the aim of collecting points immediately and not falling behind early as they did last year.
Matheo Raab signed his contract with Union Berlin until the year 2028.
