Union Berlin VS Schalke 04

Union Berlin and Schalke 04 will meet at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei with both sides still waiting for their first Bundesliga victory of the season. Union have collected just one point from their opening two matches after drawing 3-3 with Eintracht Frankfurt before suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat away to Bayer Leverkusen. The poor result against the champions highlighted defensive problems that Mauro Lustrinelli will be eager to address, particularly after Union struggled for consistency during the previous campaign. Their home record has also offered little reassurance, with only two competitive victories at home during 2026, making Friday’s fixture an important opportunity to change the mood around the club. Schalke arrive in a slightly more encouraging position despite also remaining without a win. The newly promoted side began the campaign with a 3-0 loss to Augsburg, although their performance was complicated by Ron Schallenberg’s red card while they were only one goal behind. Miron Muslic’s team responded strongly in their next match by holding reigning champions Bayern Munich to a goalless draw. Goalkeeper Loris Karius played a major role in that result with a series of important saves, continuing to show why his experience could prove valuable during Schalke’s return to the top flight. Sitting 14th, Schalke have already demonstrated greater resilience than their opening defeat suggested and will see this fixture as a realistic chance to collect their first three points.