IT’S BACK!

Germans prove football can return, but Premier League hit by more delay

THE Premier League received a huge boost last night after the Bundesliga successfully relaunched — but English football’s own Project Restart may be more than a month away, with managers and fitness trainers saying they need more time to get players fully fit.

Almost two months since the Premier League came to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic, top-class football in Europe was back, with Borussia Dortmund thrashing local rivals Schalke 4-0 in the outstanding clash of the day.

Premier League clubs should start socially distant group training from Tuesday, assuming the clubs agree initial medical protocols at a shareholders’ meetings tomorrow, but the start date f or t he first game looks like slipping from June 12. Coaches want at least three, or preferably four, weeks of contact training, which is due to start on June 1, before games resume.

But in what will be seen as a confirmation t hat t he Premier League could restart their season, the Bundesliga successfully navigated a full round of Saturday fixtures.

Norwegian teen star Erling Haaland, the son of former Leeds pl a yer Al f e - I nge, opened the scoring for Dortmund. The victory t akes them to within a point of leaders Bayern Munich, who play Union Berlin today.

There was some controversy when Borussia Moenchengladbach’s Marcus Thuram, the son of France World Cup winner Lillian, appeared to kiss team-mate Ramy Bensebaini to celebrate a goal, and Hertha Berlin’s Dedryck Boyata also kissing Marko Grujic in their 3-0 win over Hoffenheim.