Berlin (AFP) – Thomas Mueller joked that the Bundesliga without fans feels like "old man's football, 7pm, under floodlights" after Bayern Munich brushed aside Union Berlin 2-0 behind closed doors on Sunday. A first-half Robert Lewandowski penalty and a late Benjamin Pavard header sealed Bayern's win in front of empty terraces in Berlin. The result […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich maintained their four-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga as Germany gave fans across the world their first taste of elite football for two months amid empty stands and stringent hygiene guidelines designed to curtail the spread of the coronavirus. AFP looks at the five things we learned from […]

Berlin (AFP) – Robert Lewandowski bagged his 26th league goal this season as leaders Bayern Munich restarted the Bundesliga season with a 2-0 win at Union Berlin behind closed doors on Sunday. Lewandowski netted a first-half penalty and defender Benjamin Pavard scored a late header for Bayern in Berlin after the Bundesliga became the first […]

Berlin (AFP) – Hertha Berlin defender Dedryck Boyata apologised on Sunday for his up-close encounter with Marko Grujic but denied kissing his team-mate after a senior German politician criticised players for breaching the league's strict hygiene protocol. The German Bundesliga restarted on Saturday after a two-month break due to the coronavirus pandemic with clubs having […]

Berlin (AFP) – Cologne star Mark Uth said that the absence of fans was no excuse for throwing away a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw with struggling Mainz on Sunday in the Bundesliga. "If you're up 2-0, you have to finish things off – with or without spectators," fumed goal-scorer Uth. On Saturday, the […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal said they are taking reports striker Alexandre Lacazette inhaled nitrous oxide from a balloon "seriously" and will deal with the matter internally. The Frenchman, was pictured with a balloon in his mouth and is said to have sent a video to friends saying he was "at home, chilling and doing balloons”, […]

Berlin (AFP) – Cologne surrendered a two-goal lead Sunday, with players' calls echoing around the stadium, as strugglers Mainz fought back to earn a 2-2 draw in the Bundesliga. On Saturday, the Bundesliga became the first top European league to return amid the coronavirus pandemic with second-placed Borussia Dortmund hammering Schalke 4-0 in the Ruhr […]

Madrid (AFP) – Celta Vigo attacker Pione Sisto was fined a club record 60,000 euros ($65,000) for driving 3,000km home to Denmark by breaking strict coronavirus measures, local media reported on Sunday. The 25-year-old Danish international made the journey on March 27 as Spain was under lockdown and returned on May 6 to Galicia before […]

Berlin (AFP) – Union Berlin could normally expect their Alten Foersterei ground to be packed for the visit of defending Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, yet the terraces stood empty on Sunday. The Bundesliga returned this weekend after a two-month hiatus due to the coronavirus, but the league's strict hygiene guidelines mean matches played behind locked […]

Berlin (AFP) – A senior German politician expects the Bundesliga to "tighten up" instructions on how to celebrate goals after some players hugged – breaching strict hygiene protocol – when the league resumed this weekend. The German season restarted on Saturday after a two-month break due to the coronavirus pandemic with clubs having agreed to […]

Berlin (AFP) – The restart of the Bundesliga behind locked doors on Saturday attracted over six million viewers watching in Germany, a new record for broadcasters Sky, according to specialist website DWDL.de. When the German league resumed on Saturday afternoon after a two-month break due to the coronavirus, Sky had 3.68 million viewers watching the […]

London (AFP) – Newcastle manager Steve Bruce believes going to the supermarket or petrol station could pose a greater a risk of coronavirus than a return to football given the strict measures put in place to protect players. However, Bruce warned his squad could "fall down like a pack of cards" with injuries if they […]

Madrid (AFP) – La Liga have told clubs they will be able to increase training to involve groups of up to 10 players on Monday as teams take another step towards the planned resumption of the season next month. The Spanish government has announced protocol that will allow training sessions to be expanded by all […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich restart their charge for an eighth straight Bundesliga title at Union Berlin on Sunday amid doubts the Bavarian giants will be able to last the distance after a two-month hiatus. Hansi Flick's side hold a one-point lead at the top of the league heading into their trip to the German […]

Berlin (AFP) – Hertha Berlin player won't be punished for hugging and kissing as they enjoyed a much-needed victory when German football resumed on Saturday, the Bundesliga confirmed after the match. In order to obtain the political green light to resume this weekend, the Bundesliga agreed strict rules to avoid the spread of coronavirus. Yet, […]