Union Berlin vs Atalanta

Stadion An der AltenFörsterei is the venue as Union Berlin and Atalanta go head-to-head in their first-ever showdown.

Union Berlin upset the odds to secure a top-four finish and their first-ever Champions League qualification last season, only four years after earning their maiden Bundesliga promotion. Inspired by a resounding 2022/23 success, Urs Fischer’s men have been busy this summer, recruiting the likes of Brenden Aaronson, Alex Kral, Lucas Tousart, and David Datro Fofana. But as witnessed by their mixed results across six off-season friendlies (W3, L3), it may take some time before the newcomers settle in the new surroundings. In a true ‘Union Berlin’ style, their warm-up fixtures have brimmed with a competitive spirit, as four of those six matches featured a full-time margin of a single goal.

Meanwhile, Atalanta’s fifth-place Serie A finish and, consequentially, another failed attempt to qualify for the Champions League has taken its toll this summer. Club-record signing Jeremie Boga has left Bergamo to link up with Nice, with prodigious forward Rasmus Hojlund set to join Manchester United. SeadKolasinac, Mitchel Bakker, and El Bilal Toure have joined Gian Piero Gasperini’s side that hammered lower-league Pro Sesto 3-0 earlier this week. ‘La Dea’ ousted Premier League outfit Bournemouth 3-1 in last weekend’s friendly, inspired by an early 2-0 lead. That victory forms part of Atalanta’s inspiring five-game winning streak, during which they netted a mind-blowing 27 goals and conceded only three in return. Delivering action from the get-go, Gasperini’s men scored multiple first-half goals in four of those five triumphs.