Surfing through channels early afternoon last Sunday, I caught a match on television and thought it was a replay. Lingering for a while, I realized the game was played inside an empty stadium and was broadcasted live. It was around the 70th minute of the Bundesliga game between Bayern Munich and Union Berlin. It was a welcome change from all the sports re-runs and Netflix movies.
Bayern, 28-time Bundesliga titlist, was ahead 1-0 via a penalty kick from forward Robert Lewandowski when I tuned in. On the 80th minute, French international Benjamin Pavard headed home a second goal which sealed the fate of Union Berlin.
As much as I enjoyed the match, the play-by-play commentary was also interesting. It was in Spanish. I searched for other channels doing English commentaries of the game but found none. I was amused when Pavard scored. âGooooooooooooalâ, the commentator shouted very long. I was not absolutely expecting it. Yet, goal celebrations remain the same among players despite the added game protocols on body contacts.
The next match for the German powerhouse Bayern will be on May 26 against rivals Borussia Dortmund. Germanyâs Bundesliga is the first European major league to open after the coronavirus disease 2019 lockdown. And as per reports, the competition went well regardless of being weird.
On the other hand, the English Premier League (EPL) could start by the first week of June â also with empty stadiums. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the government has a program in plan, and it includes the opening and broadcasting of live sports. League executives are united in their desire to have the season resume the soonest possible time and finish the remaining 92 matches. Hopefully, Manchester United will make some noise after being stagnant for quite a while.
France, meanwhile, has banned sporting events until September, thus there will be no more French Ligue 1 this season.
Spainâs La Liga, for its part, might return by late June or Early July. Vamos, Real Madriad! Italyâs Seria A might follow suit later.
Letâs get used to seeing matches without loud European fans on the stands. From where Iâm based, the Bundesliga and the EPL are usually played in the mornings and until such time that it will be comfortable for me to get back to work. Football could just go well with my morning coffee. Ole! Ole! Ole!/PN
