Bundesliga rolls … what we learnt from Day One

Bundesliga rolls … what we learnt from Day One

• German Top-flight football resumed today
• Becomes first major sporting event in Europe to resume
• Mental Health and Psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Bundesliga finally resumed after nearly two months of suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic.

While other leagues sat back and watched as the German sides hit the pitch for the first time after nearly two months, a major item could not go unnoticed – fans.

As part of the health directives on safety, football will miss the cheer, jeer and boos of the fans in the stadium and this was evident right from the first match, the Revierderby – Borussia Dortmund vs Schalke FC.

As the first day rolled, it was clear that the beautiful game was going to be a whole lot different.

Khusoko Sports takes a look at major points evidenced in this ‘new age of sports’:

Celebrations

When Erling Haaland broke the deadlock in the Revierderby, the towering Norwegian ran to the corner flag and took part in a socially distanced celebration with his team-mates.

In another match. Freiburg celebrated taking an unexpected lead against title-contenders Red Bull Leipzig by touching elbows.

Wolfsburg’s Renato Steffen performed a similar celebration after putting his side ahead against Augsburg.

Things were different elsewhere as Hertha Berlin and former Manchester City defender Dedryck Boyata forgot about the social distance directive as he kissed his teammate Marko Grujic.

Shortly after the kiss, Hertha Berlin scored two quick-fire goals on the hour mark to give themselves a comfortable lead in their return match.

Strange Environment

Football matches have always been characteristic of loud cheers, jeers and even boos all through the 90 minutes.

However, this has changed with the coronavirus pandemic restricting fans access to stadiums.

This means that a strangely quiet football match made for a new and rather unwanted atmosphere for football fans and players.

The atmosphere inside the stadiums was ‘dead’ as the microphones could only pick sounds of players and coaches shouting.

Players crumbled

The long break from football has had a physical effect on the players physically. In the minutes leading to the 70^th minute, several players in different games dropped to the ground with leg cramps.

This could be a result of the long unwarranted break from the football calendar that could have weighed in on the players’ fitness levels as well as physical state.

Erling Haaland is still ‘hot property’

The Norwegian was on the end of a cross from Thorgan Hazard and broke the deadlock in the Revierderby.

This was the 19-year-old’s tenth in his ninth Bundesliga game since joining the German side in January.

VAR …still here

Video Assistant Referee decisions have been subject to criticism and applaud in equal measures.

In RB Leipzig’s match against SC Freiburg, the visitors nearly pulled off a surprise upset with a last minute goal. This was however rescinded when the VAR ruled the goal offside.