Bundesliga to return from coronavirus on May 16 - sources

Published on: 07 May 2020

Gab Marcotti reacts to the news that the Bundesliga has been given the all clear to resume as early as May 15. Lutz Pfannenstiel speaks about the Bundesliga potentially returning to action on May 15 and how Dusseldorf are preparing.

The Bundesliga will return on May 16 amid the coronavirus crisis and the German Football Association (DFL) hope to complete the season by June 30, sources have told ESPN.

Germany's government on Wednesday gave the green light for the Bundesliga to return and left the decision of the return date to the DFL. At an Ordinary Assembly on Thursday, the 36 clubs of the upper two tiers agreed on the earliest possible date, May 15, in order to complete the season by June 30.

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The Bundesliga was suspended on the eve of matchday 26 on March 13 and the DFL agreed to continue with the standard calendar. All games will be held behind closed doors amid a ban on mass gatherings in Germany until Aug. 31.

Among the matches to be played when Bundesliga returns on May 16 will be the Revierderby between Borussia Dortmund and FC Schalke 044, with the two sets of fans having a long-standing rivalry.

Leaders Bayern Munich will be away to Union Berlin and the Klassiker between Dortmund and Bayern is set to be played on May 26 or 27. Germany's record champions are vying for an eighth consecutive title and hold a four-point lead over Borussia Dortmund.

RB Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach complete the five teams competing for Bundesliga's four Champions League places.

Schalke, Wolfsburg, Freiburg, Hoffenheim and Cologne are battling for a maximum of two Europa League places, while at the bottom Paderborn and Werder Bremen need to make up a six and four points gap respectively to reach the relegation play off place, which is held by Fortuna Dusseldorf.

While the DFL hope to complete the league by June 30, the playoff between the 16th-placed Bundesliga club and the third placed Bundesliga 2 club are planned to take place in July.

Source: espn.co.uk

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