German football has returned and within the first four minutes of action, it was manic, with a goal and a red card.
Dennis Diekmeier was shown a straight red card for a professional foul in the area for the visitors. Dimitrij Nazarov fired home from the resulting penalty to give the Erzgebirge Aue a 1-0 lead.
Chancellor Angela Merkel gave the green light for the Bundesliga – which last played on March 8 – to start again. In the top flight, it will be Dortmund and Schalke kicking things off in the Revierderby at 2.30pm.
Champions Bayern Munich, who are leading the division by four points, will also be in action on the weekend of reopening as they fly to Union Berlin. The DFL (German Football Association) has said strict protocols will be adhered to. The clubs have been training in groups since the middle of April.
Markus Soder, Bavaria’s president, told the biggest national newspaper in Germany, Bild, that there had been many issues with players and clubs. He said, “If health experts have made those suggestions if the league with great expense and smart ideas has worked on concepts, you have to stick those rules. “And if you do not stick to those rules, you might get the red card. It’s like that in football as well as in real life.”