News24
24 May 2020, 02:42 GMT+10
Bayern Munich cruised to victory once more as Borussia Dortmund kept within touching ahead of next week's top-two showdown but there were still plenty of unusual sights and sounds in the Bundesliga this weekend.
AFP Sport looks at some of the most notable moments from the second round of matches since football's restart in Germany:
Moment of reflection for victims
A minute's silence is being observed ahead of all games in Germany's top two tiers this week and next in memory of Covid-19 victims worldwide. Over 8 200 people have died from coronavirus-related causes in Germany, which has reported more than 175 000 cases. Players are also wearing black armbands in tribute.
"The spread of the coronavirus has already taken many lives throughout the world. German professional football would like to express its condolences," German league chief executive Christian Seifert said this week.
Cut it out!
Borussia Moenchengladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer was pictured seated next to his partner, Alina, among the home fans as 13 000 cardboard cut-outs 'watched' the team in Saturday's 3-1 loss to Bayer Leverkusen. An initiative launched by a Gladbach supporters' group has attracted plenty of interest, with fans jumping on the chance to have life-sized images of themselves in the stands. Thousands of people have taken up the offer, where they pay €19 to have their cut-out placed inside Borussia Park. Season ticket holders can even have their lookalike allocated to their regular spot.
"It looks great, doesn't make any noise, but creates a certain atmosphere," said Gladbach defender Stefan Lainer. "It's definitely a great idea and I'm glad that so many took part."
Elbow room at the top
Bayern Munich maintained their four-point cushion at the top ahead of Tuesday's trip to second-placed Borussia Dortmund with a 5-2 win over Eintracht Frankfurt. With strict health protocols in place to limit contact between players to a minimum, the elbow-tap celebration was dusted off several times at the Allianz Arena as in-form Bayern recorded their 12th league win in 13 outings.
Protest banners out in force again
A number of dissenting banners criticising the league's resumption without fans were again visible across stadiums in Germany. Millions tuned in last weekend to watch some live football, but a significant portion remained unhappy at the idea of games going ahead without the noisy backdrop provided by German supporters.
"Silent faces, cardboard reminders: Football without fans is nothing! For Borussia, against games behind closed doors!" read a series of banners at Gladbach's Borussia Park. Another in Paderborn, where the hosts drew 1-1 with Hoffenheim, said: "Basic law number one: the Bundesliga is above everything."
All ears for Dortmund coach
Borussia Dortmund coach Lucien Favre said one of the rare benefits to playing behind closed was the ability to instruct his players with relative ease. "I think it's positive that the players can now hear me better in the stadium," said Favre, able to grab the attention of his players far more easily than usual. "Normally only my wide players can understand me."
The absence of fans has negated home advantage since the league's return - with just three wins in 15 matches through Saturday for the home side.
Rare Beckenbauer outing
German football great Franz Beckenbauer was in attendance for Bayern's behind-closed-doors game at home to Eintracht, after he was invited by chairperson Karl-Heinz Rummenigge as part of an eight-person delegation that included former club president Uli Hoeness. "I'm leaving my house for the first time in a long time," 74-year-old Beckenbauer told German daily .
Beckenbauer, whose health has deteriorated in recent years, had to wear a face mask and sit several seats away from others in the delegation. His trial on corruption charges linked to the 2006 World Cup ended without a verdict late last month.
Get a daily dose of International Travel News news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to International Travel News.
More InformationNEW YORK CITY, New York: Former British prime minister Rishi Sunak will return to Goldman Sachs in an advisory role, the Wall Street...
LONDON, U.K.: Physically backed gold exchange-traded funds recorded their most significant semi-annual inflow since the first half...
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands: Some 32 percent of global semiconductor production could face climate change-related copper supply disruptions...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks rebounded Tuesday with all the major indices gaining ground. Markets in the UK, Europe and Canada...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Financial markets kicked off the week on a cautious note as President Donald Trump rolled out a fresh round...
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil: At a two-day summit over the weekend, the BRICS bloc of emerging economies issued a joint declaration condemning...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Travelers at U.S. airports will no longer need to remove their shoes during security screenings, Department of Homeland...
PARIS, France: A strike by French air traffic controllers demanding improved working conditions caused significant disruptions during...
Pune (Maharashtra) [India], July 11 (ANI): A stunning transformation is underway in Pune, where trash is being turned into timeless...
New Delhi [India], July 11 (ANI): A special 'Swarnim Bharat Yatra' tourist train under the Bharat Gaurav scheme will depart on August...
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], July 10 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that the responsibility...
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], July 10 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that he stands firmly...