Union Berlin Likely to Miss Four Key Players for Cup Opener

Football club Union Berlin is bracing for its first competitive match of the season, likely without a significant portion of its squad. Coach Mauro Lustrinelli indicated that goalkeepers Frederik Rönnow and Matheo Raab, as well as forwards Andrej Ilic and Oliver Burke, have "few chances" of being available for the German Cup tie against Eintracht Braunschweig on August 23.

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Few chances

Injuries have sidelined the key players. Rönnow and Raab were unable to participate in the team's recent test match against Aris Limassol due to their respective injuries. This situation suggests that third-choice goalkeeper Carl Klaus might be tasked with starting in Braunschweig. The absence of Rönnow, the team's primary goalkeeper, is a notable blow.

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At the moment the situation is like this, but the group is making progress.

Forwards Ilic and Burke were not present at the test match at all. Ilic had to leave the training camp early due to food poisoning contracted before the trip. Burke has been struggling with Achilles tendon problems for over four weeks. This leaves Union Berlin potentially relying on a forward pairing of Ilyas Ansah and new acquisition Emmanuel Latte Lath, who scored on his debut against Limassol.

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Ilic had to leave the training camp early due to the consequences of food poisoning contracted before arrival.

Several other players are also nursing injuries, including Robert Skov, Stanley Nsoki, Julien Friedrich, and Mekhi Gray. The return of defender Nsoki seems particularly unlikely, as he has only briefly been on the training pitch since early July and has been working individually. The team faces significant challenges in assembling a full-strength squad for the crucial opening fixture.

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Burke has been struggling with Achilles tendon problems for over four weeks.