1. FC Union Berlin opened the 2021/22 season with an internal bounce match at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei with proposed opponents Dukla Prague stuck in traffic.

Due to kick off at 15:30, the match was pushed back to 16:45 after serious congestion around Berlin. With the Czech second-tier side unable to reach the Alte Försterei in time, Urs Fischer's matchday squad was still able to get minutes into the legs. 

The first-team squad will divided into the following line-ups for two halves of 30 minutes:

Union I: Luthe; Van Drongelen, Friedrich, Ryerson (Sanogo 30), Kruse, Wszolek, Endo, Kade, Gießelmann, Andrich, Abdullahi

Union II: Busk; Jaeckel, Öztunali, Khedira, Voglsammer, Behrens, Baumgartl, Dehl, Ingvartsen, Griesbeck, Dajaku

Union II ran out 3-1 winners after 60 minutes with Leon Dajaku marking his recovery from injury with two goals at the Alte Försterei. Just 2,000 supporters were permitted to attend the game under the Berlin sun, but despite the delays, remained in good voice throughout. The Union supporters were able to see Ricky van Drongelen, Pawel Wszolek, Paul Jaeckel, Levin Öztunali, Rani Khedira, Andreas Voglsammer, Kevin Behrens and Timo Baumgartl for the first time. Laurenz Dehl, Julius Kade and Suleiman Abdullahi were back in Köpenick following loan moves last season. While not on the pitch, Genki Haraguchi was on the bench as the Japanese international prepares for the new campaign. Signed from Sandhausen, Behrens put Union II ahead after 38 minutes of action but Abdullahi equalised straight from the restart. It was up to Dajaku to decide the bounce match, scoring two goals, including one in the last minute.