Berlin (AFP) – Norwegian sensation Erling Braut Haaland stole the limelight Saturday as the German Bundesliga became the first major European football league to return since the coronavirus lockdown, with teams playing in empty, echoing stadiums. The 19-year-old striker claimed the first goal in Germany's top flight for over two months to set Borussia Dortmund […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany gave football-starved fans reason to be cheerful on Saturday with the Bundesliga's return to action behind closed doors, on a day in which Borussia Dortmund hammered local rivals Schalke in an echoing Signal Iduna Park. Here AFP looks at some of the most eye-catching things from a memorable day in the […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund's coach and chief executive spoke of the "very strange" and "surreal" experience of playing in an empty stadium after their side beat Schalke as the Bundesliga returned to action on Saturday. Second-placed Dortmund won 4-0 to close the gap on leaders Bayern Munich to one point as the Bundesliga became […]

Berlin (AFP) – The German Bundesliga on Saturday became the first major European league to resume playing after a two-month coronavirus lockdown. Matches were played without fans while goal celebrations were banned and benches observed social distancing. AFP Sport looks at the reaction: "There is something surreal about it. In the two hours before the […]

Berlin (AFP) – Norwegian sensation Erling Braut Haaland stole the limelight Saturday as the German Bundesliga became the first major European football league to return since the coronavirus lockdown, with teams playing in empty, echoing stadiums. The 19-year-old striker claimed the first goal in Germany's top flight for over two months to set Borussia Dortmund […]

Leipzig (Germany) (AFP) – RB Leipzig were held to a 1-1 draw by Freiburg as the Bundesliga restarted following the coronavirus suspension on Saturday, suffering a further knock to their dwindling title hopes. Julian Nagelsmann's third-placed side sit four points behind league leaders Bayern Munich ahead of the reigning champions' visit to Union Berlin on […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund's rising star Giovanni Reyna, 17, suffered heartbreak minutes before what would have been his first Bundesliga start when he was injured warming up before the Ruhr derby at home to Schalke on Saturday. The Bundesliga returned on Saturday behind closed doors after a two-month break due to the coronavirus with Dortmund […]

Dortmund (Germany) (AFP) – The setting may be unfamiliar with the German Bundesliga returning behind closed doors after a two-month coronavirus shutdown, but the identity of the day's first goal-scorer was entirely familiar as Erling Braut Haaland put Borussia Dortmund ahead against Schalke. Haaland diverted a low Thorgan Hazard cross into the far corner of […]

London (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp has insisted Liverpool have no need to be at their "all-time best" in order to clinch a first English league title in 30 years. Premier League officials are now aiming to restart the season in mid-June, with Liverpool just two wins away from the title when the campaign was postponed […]

Dortmund (Germany) (AFP) – Nicole Bartelt has been a loyal fan at all but two of Borussia Dortmund's home matches since 2008, but when the Bundesliga restarts Saturday after a two-month hiatus because of the coronavirus, she will be forced to keep away from the stands. Nevertheless, Bartelt, 44, is not complaining that the derby […]

London (AFP) – Watford manager Nigel Pearson has raised the possibility of a coronavirus-related death should the Premier League season resume amid the pandemic. English top-flight teams could return to some type of training next week following a Premier League meeting on Monday where medical protocols will be voted on and there are plans to […]

Berlin (AFP) – The Bundesliga returns to action on Saturday with the resumption of the first top European league since the coronavirus lockdown watched closely to see if it provides a blueprint for other competitions. Matches will be played behind closed doors and players and coaches, who have been in quarantine for the past week, […]

Berlin (AFP) – Football in Germany returns to the pitch on Saturday as the Bundesliga becomes the first of Europe's top leagues to swing back into action since the coronavirus lockdown. The German Football League (DFL) convinced Chancellor Angela Merkel and the country's regional leaders to allow play to resume by agreeing to submit to […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski says he is fitter than ever ahead of Sunday's Bundesliga clash at FC Union Berlin and taking advice from World Cup record-holder Miroslav Klose. The 41-year-old Klose, who holds the record of 16 goals scored at World Cup finals, has joined Bayern's staff and will be next […]

London (AFP) – The Premier League's bid to restart the season in June is in danger of being derailed by a heated debate between players about the risks of playing amid the coronavirus crisis. While Premier League chiefs believe completing the campaign is essential to safeguard the financial and sporting future of the game, some […]