Bundesliga’s back!
The Bundesliga became the rst major sporting league to resume operations since the coronavirus pandemic brought the world to its knees. Wunderkind Erling Haaland scored the rst goal and Robert Lewandowski extended his lead atop the topscorers list with a composed nish from the penalty spot.
Normal service resumed. Almost.
The world had its eyes on the German league like never before, not just for the football on oer, but to also make note of how it was unfolding. Sporting federations around the world are reeling under nancial losses due to the cancellation or postponement of tournaments and the Bundesliga was the guinea pig based on which other leagues – and sports – could return.
Haaland was trending on social media over the weekend and it wasn’t for his goal or assists. It was rather his postmatch interview, where he barely mumbled a few words in English before walking away.
The Norwegian teenager did all his talking on the pitch, however. He had the rst touch of the ball and the rst goal after the coronavirusenforced break. He needed less than half an hour to put Borussia Dortmund in the lead. Dortmund’s uid attack saw Schalke spend most of the game on the back foot. Thorgan Hazard scored just before halftime and Raphael Guerreiro found the back of the net in either half and BVB registered an emphatic Rivierderby victory to go one point behind Bayern Munich.
But Bayern Munich restored its fourpoint lead 24 hours later in the capital. Union Berlin did better than most newly promoted sides would against the Bavarian giant, but Bayern had enough repower in its arsenal to negotiate the tricky tie.
Lewandowski scored his 26th goal of the campaign and 40th goal of the season – for the fth consecutive season – before Benjamin Pavard’s header sealed the three points. RB Leipzig was the only team in the top four to falter. Playing at home to Freiburg, it had to come from behind to take a point from the game — while needing assistance from the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to (rightfully) rule out a late goal for the visitor.
Borussia Monchengladbach didn’t get out of second gear in its defeat of Eintracht Frankfurt. Despite being outmuscled for most of the game, Gladbach stuck to its plan and breached the Frankfurt defence thrice. It remains two points behind Dortmund but leapfrogged Leipzig to third.
Augsburg lost at home to Wolfsburg to remain four points above the relegation zone while Hertha Berlin won against midtable rival Hoenheim to move two spots behind the top half.
Mainz 05 scored two goals in the nal 20 minutes against FC Koln to avoid a second defeat in four games and keep a fourpoint distance from the drop zone.
Erling Haaland scored the rst goal and Robert Lewandowski extended his lead atop the topscorers list as the rst major sporting league resumed operations since the coronavirus pandemic began.
Every major league in the world has something unique about it. For the Bundesliga, it is the fan culture. With ticket prices a fraction of what Premier League clubs charge and safe standing terraces, football tourism is an actual thing that tourists can do in the country — covering multiple stadia over a weekend to experience the vibrant atmosphere in the stands more than the proceedings on the pitch.
With games going ahead without spectators, there was one buzzword that matchgoing fans were kept using in the count
down to the weekend’s rst game — Geisterspiele, meaning ghost games. It might be a German phrase, but fans across the world may be forced to embrace it soon.
A banner displayed at seconddivision side St Pauli read: “Without you, it’s all worthless! Football lives through its fans!”
There were no fans, there was no atmosphere, and everyone had to unlearn everything about the matchday experience. Team buses drove through empty streets into the stadiums, pregame warmups were a silent aair, and match balls were heavily disinfected.
The games also brought new viewing experiences. The microphones around the pitches picked up instructions from coaches on the touchlines as well as verbal communication between players with clarity.
Twentyseven goals were scored and the celebrations were in tune with the times — players standing away from each other, breaking into a dance routine alone or just elbow bumps and virtual highves. Continuing tradition, Dortmund players celebrated with the (empty) yellow wall after their game.
The ‘controversial’ talking point over the weekend was not a refereeing decision or a VAR error but a goal celebration. Dedryck Boyata could not contain his emotions and kissed teammate Marko Grujic on the cheek, breaking the new guidelines for close contact during celebrations. It also happened in Mochengladbach’s game when Marcus Thuram gave teammate Ramy Bensebaini a peck on the cheek after his goal.
Neither the clubs nor the players will be punished though as the league decided to give them some leeway since players are making huge adjustments to their routine to get the game going again.
Outside the pitch, substitutes had to ditch their dugouts for the empty stands to sit away from each other — armed with towels, masks and gloves. There were breaks in each half for players to catch some breath and rehydrate like they normally do in preseason games.
It was not football as we know it. But it was football. This abnormal is the new normal.