Bundesliga restarts after COVID-19 pandemic break

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay 

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

FRANKFURT, GERMANY (May 16, 2020) On Saturday, the Bundesliga, Germany's top level league, became the first major soccer organization to return to live play with six matches on tap. The games were the first to be played since the league suspended play on March 11 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Below is a recap of those first games.

Hertha 3, Hoffenhein 0  Die Alte Dame (The Old Lady) blasted in two second-half goals, along with an own goal by Hoffenhein defender Kevin Akpoguma in the 58th minute for the win. Striker Vedad Ibišević scored in the 60th minute with winger Matheus Cunha adding the insurance goal 14 minutes later.

Wolfsburg 2, Augsburg 1 With the score tied after regulation, striker Daniel Ginczek scored the game winner in the 91st minute to give Die Wölfe (The Wolves) the win. Midfielder Renato Steffen scored the first goal of the match in the 43rd minute for Wolfsburg with defender Tin Jedvaj scoring for Augsburg in the 54th miniute.

Dusseldorf 0, Paderborn 0 These two teams battled to a scoreless draw at Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf.

Leipzig 1, Freiburg 1 Defender Manuel Gulde got Freiburg on the scoreboard in the 34th minute. Striker Yossuf Poulsen tied up the match in the 77th minute.

Dordmund 4, Schalke 0 Die Schwarzgelben (The Black and Yellows) showed no mercy, with defender Raphaël Guerreiro tallying a brace, in the 45th and 63rd minutes. Striker Erling Braut Håland scored the first goal of the match in the 29th minute with midfielder Thorgan Hazard adding the third goal of the game, in the 48th minute.

Monchengladbach 3, Frankfurt 1 Die Fohlen (The Foals)  scored twice in the first seven minutes, with goals by strikers Alassane Pléa, in the first minute, and Marcus Thuram in the seventh minute. Defender Ramy Bensebaini added the insurance goal. on a penalty kick, in the 73rd minute. Frankfurt scored on an André Silva goal in the 81st minute.

Action continues on Sunday with two matches with the final game of Matchday 26 on Monday.