Union Berlin begin the DFB-Pokal first round at the Eintracht-Stadion against Eintracht Braunschweig, and it is more than a standard cup opener. It is the first competitive game for Mauro Lustrinelli in charge, it comes against a side who have already played two competitive matches this season, and it arrives with a bit of risk attached.

Union's first competitive test

Lustrinelli's first job is not just to get through. He has to show that Union's summer changes can survive a trip to a ground where Braunschweig will be fully up to speed, with the home crowd behind them and a chance to make the most of a rare Bundesliga visitor.

Union's own summer business adds to the interest. Michel Aebischer has joined from Pisa for £3m and has already made four appearances in 2026, so this is not a squad waiting to be assembled around its new signings. The pieces are there, and this tie will give an early read on how quickly they can fit.

Union finished 11th in the Bundesliga in 2025, which is a decent base but not one that guarantees control in a game like this. Away cup ties against energetic lower-division opposition tend to expose teams that are still settling, and this one has that feel.

Braunschweig's cup angle

Braunschweig have reasons to believe this can get awkward for Union. They stayed up on goal difference after finishing 15th in the 2. Bundesliga, picked up 11 crucial points from their final 10 matches, and have already had competitive football under their belt this season.

The cup history is less flattering. Braunschweig have been eliminated in the first round in seven of the last nine DFB-Pokal seasons, and they lost all five of their most recent DFB-Pokal matches at home. That is a hard starting point to ignore, even with the motivation that comes from facing Bundesliga opposition.

Sports Mole summed up the mood neatly: "Eintracht Braunschweig will be up for Sunday's game, given this is a rare opportunity to test themselves against Bundesliga opposition." They are likely to be sharp, noisy and willing to take the tie deep.

The safer pick still leans Union, and Sports Mole's 1-2 call reflects that. But the more interesting question is how polished Union look in Lustrinelli's first competitive outing, because Braunschweig have enough about them to turn a routine first-round tie into something much less comfortable.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →