Union are facing a heavyweight in European football in the shape of Real Madrid. Since the club's official entry into women's football for the 2020/21 season, the team from the capital have finished as runners-up in four out of five seasons in the Spanish Primera Division. Only in the 2021/22 season did Real finish in third place. In the Champions League, Madrid reached the quarter-finals for the second time last season, where the Spaniards narrowly missed out on progressing even further. After a 2-0 victory in the first leg, Arsenal won the return leg 3-0 on their way to securing the trophy.

In the Primera División last season, Real finished eight points behind record champions FC Barcelona, who celebrated their sixth consecutive title. Nevertheless, this gap was the smallest so far between the two teams; Barcelona had won the previous season with a 15-point lead. Additionally, Real managed to beat Barcelona in a league match for the first time last season when, on matchday 23, the Madrilenians won 3-1.

To launch an attack on the Catalans this season, Real have significantly strengthened their squad with some players well-known here as well. The German international Sara Däbritz joined from Olympique Lyon while former national goalkeeper Merle Frohms was signed from VfL Wolfsburg to challenge the current captain of the team, Misa Rodríguez, for the number one spot. Also noteworthy is the signing of Swedish Euro participant Hannah Bennison from Juventus. On the flip side, Real had to let go of a key player in Olga Carmona, who joined Paris Saint-Germain. The long-time German international Melanie Leupolz, who played for Real last season, also retired this summer.

There was also a change on the coaching bench: The 32-year-old Pau Quesada, who was Co-Coach of Torino's men's team last season, took over this summer from Alberto Toril after four years.

None of Hannah Eurlings, Leonie Köster, Judith Steinert, Elli Seiro, Ida Heikkinen, Fatma Sakar, Sophie Weidauer and Antonia Halverkamps are  available to Union's head coach Ailien Poese for the match.

“Real Madrid are a very good friendly opponent that will challenge us once again. We will incorporate aspects that we have readdressed after the Wolfsburg match into the match plan to gain further insights for the rest of the pre-season,” said Ailien Poese on Thursday about the season opener.

Tickets for the match are available for public sale in all of Union's ticket offices as well as online. The Stadion An der Alten Försterei opens its gates and the matchday ticket office at 13:30. There are available parking spaces in front of the main stand, and the parking fee is €8.