Union Berlin 2025/26 season preview: Transfers, pre-season, predicted lineup & predictions

Heading into their seventh successive season in Bundesliga, Union Berlin are seeking to get back to a top-half finish. After impressive showings in all three European competitions, the capital city club recorded its worst two top-flight campaigns.

The aim will be to get back on track this term. While there are movements in the stadium redevelopment process, the team should massively improve from the recent trend both in terms of results and playing style.

Initially, Bo Svensson seemed the perfect coach for Union Berlin. Having started the campaign with a draw away at his former club Mainz, Svensson managed to win his first three games at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. That run includes Union maintaining their impressive home record in games against Borussia Dortmund.

However, that was their last home win under Svensson. After five successive defeats and a Pokal exit by the then-unfancied Arminia Bielefeld, he was relieved of his duty during the Winterpause. At the same time, Steffen Baumgart was failing to meet expectations at Hamburger SV, but he got another shot in the Bundesliga thanks to his beloved club. Defeats against direct rivals Heidenheim and Augsburg raised doubts about the decision, but Baumgart’s team finished the season on a much better form. The reverse fixture against Heidenheim was the only one they lost from the last ten games of the season. Including a record-breaking 4-4 draw against Stuttgart, five of those games were against teams who will play continental football next season.