Much to the delight of fans, Germany’s Bundesliga, one of the top professional leagues in the world, resumed action on Saturday, 16th May 2020 with a full slate of games.
On Saturday, six games took place, with five having commenced at 9.30 a.m. ET, marking the first action in over two months after German officials shut the league down at the conclusion of games on 8th March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
With empty stands, disinfected balls and Bayer Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge predicting a possible television audience of 1 billion people, the Bundesliga enjoyed an unpredictable restart, giving hope to other sports leagues.
However, fans were left somewhat disappointed as the matches were marred by scrappy performances with the players undeniably lacking match practice as they endeavored to adjust to the new conditions.
German football’s top two divisions that were suspended in mid March due to the coronavirus returned overnight with a schedule that included the Bundesliga’s showcase – the Ruhr valley derby between Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04 – as football-starved fans around the globe tuned in to watch the live action.
Bayern Munich currently holds the leading spot in the league with 55 points and a goal differential of plus- 47. Behind them is a tightly packed group of four, only three of which will earn spots in next year’s Europen Champions League. Borussia Dortmund is second with 51 points and RB Leipzig is a point behind. Monchengladbach is fourth at 49 points, with Bayer Leverkusen two points back.