Union Berlin Face Köln Again After 0–5 Cup Humiliation

Union Berlin trainer Mauro Lustrinelli was still visibly shaken at Friday's press conference as he prepared his side for Sunday's 15:30 Bundesliga fixture against 1. FC Köln — a rapid rematch after the Eiserne's humiliating 0–5 cup exit at the same club on Tuesday. "There was no signal beforehand that it could come to this," he said, stressing that the team could not take the field "the way we did on Tuesday."

The result was all the more surprising given that Union had conceded just one goal across their previous three Bundesliga matches. Only goalkeeper Matheo Raab emerged with any credit from the cup disaster. Left-back Derrick Köhn, brought on at half-time, delivered an unacceptable display, and Tom Rothe is expected to reclaim his place on Sunday.

Lustrinelli also faces a reshuffled back line. Felix Uduokhai is injured and must serve a two-game suspension after his red card in the Augsburg match, while Stanley Nsoki remains a long-term absentee. Centre-back options are therefore Zeno Van Den Bosch, Leopold Querfeld and Marvin Friedrich. Friedrich returned to the club from Borussia Mönchengladbach in the summer but had not featured in any game until he made the cup squad on Tuesday — without coming on. The trainer suggested that could change on Sunday: "Marvin Friedrich could definitely help us." Friedrich's last competitive appearance was over seven months ago, when he came on as a late substitute in a 3–3 draw for Gladbach in Cologne, with his last starting role coming more than a year ago. At right-back, Josip Juranovic has just been removed from the injury list and could return to the squad.

After holding talks with the entire squad, the team council and individual players on their return to Berlin, Lustrinelli is demanding a clear improvement in body language on Sunday.