Last test before the start of the competitive games
Union's season opener against Piraeus
With the home match against Olympiakos Piräus, the men's professional team of 1. FC Union Berlin officially opens the 2025/26 season on Saturday, 09.08.2025. Kick off of the match against the Greek record champions is at 15:30 in the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. Starting at 14:30, the team of the Eisernen will be presented as part of the season opening, followed by a two-hour autograph session with the entire professional squad at the Biergarten Hämmerlingeck from 18:15.
The Situation
Olympiakos Piraeus is currently in the midst of their summer preparation. The team from the port city has recently completed several tests in the Netherlands – against NAC Breda (3-2), Norwich City (3-0), SC Heerenveen (1-1), and ADO Den Haag (3-2), with José Luis Mendilibar's team remaining unbeaten. Depending on the outcome of today's match against Al-Taawoun, Piraeus could travel to Berlin without a defeat.
Union, on the other hand, looks back on three narrow defeats in Friendlies. Against SpVgg Greuther Fürth, 1. FC Schweinfurt 05, and RCD Espanyol Barcelona, the Köpenickers suffered losses of 0-1 each – the last two games were decided by penalty kicks. In the final test before the DFB Pokal start next week, there is now the opportunity to begin the competitive season with a positive experience.
With 48 championship titles, 29 cup victories, 19 doubles, three super cups, and the win of the Balkan Cup, Olympiakos Piraeus is one of the most successful clubs in Europe, founded exactly 100 years ago in March.
In the 2023/24 season, the club also secured the title in the UEFA Europa Conference League. The team was also extremely successful in the previous year, winning both the Greek championship and the cup. In the final of the "Kypello Elladas", Olympiakos defeated OFI Crete 2-0.
Internationally, the Greeks reached the round of 16 in the UEFA Europa League: against the Norwegian representative FK Bodø/Glimt, the team lost 2-4 on aggregate over two legs.
Off the pitch, club president Evangelos Marinakis repeatedly makes headlines. The businessman holds shares in Olympiakos, Nottingham Forest, and the Portuguese club Rio Ave FC. However, his impulsive nature has also brought him trouble in the past – for instance, through drastic statements towards his own team or a ban by the English Football Association after an incident during a Premier League match.
Union will not be able to count on Livan Burcu, Oluwaseun Ogbemudia, and Stanley Nsoki.
“We want to end the last Friendly with a positive result before things really kick off again. Olympiacos Piraeus is a team that has not lost for a long time in both Friendlies and the previous season, which is why we expect a strong opponent. But that’s the challenge we want to face,” said head coach Steffen Baumgart ahead of the match.
The Stadion opens its Gates at 13:30. Tickets for the Friendly are still available for general sale online as well as in all Union-Zeughäuser. On match day, tickets can also be purchased at the box offices from the opening of the Stadion. There are remaining parking spaces available in the parking lot in front of the main stand. The parking fee is €8.
