BORUSSIA DORTMUND are set to be the first team in action when the Bundesliga returns on May 16.
After almost two months without any football action due to the coronavirus, Germany’s top tier will be back in just over a week.
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Borussia Dortmund will kick-off the restart of the Bundesliga after the coronavirus suspensionCredit: AP:Associated Press
Chancellor Angela Merkel has given the green light for the league – which last played on March 8 – to restart.
And now reports claim Dortmund and Schalke will be kicking things off in the Revierderby at 15:30 next Saturday.
Champions Bayern Munich will also be in action on the re-opening weekend as they travel to Union Berlin.
BT Sport have also confirmed they will be broadcasting matches for UK viewers.
Germany has seen 6,996 deaths – compared to Spain and France which have both seen more than 25,000, and the UK and Italy which have seen around 30,000 each.
The country has been on a national lockdown since March 22 but has fared better than many of its European neighbours in the battle against coronavirus.
Here is the line-up of matches that have been reported so far:
Saturday (15:30)
Dortmund vs Schalke Leipzig vs Freiburg
Hoffenheim vs Hertha
Fortuna vs Paderborn
Augsburg vs Wolfsburg
(18:30)
Frankfurt vs Gladbach
Sunday
Cologne vs Mainz
Union vs Bayern
Monday
Bremen vs Leverkusen
The action will only go ahead with biological controls at grounds that are usually reserved for medical facilities.
And stadium capacities will also be enforced despite fans being unable to attend.
Second division side FC Cologne confirmed three members of staff had tested positive for coronavirus earlier this week but the league is still pressing ahead with a return to action.
Now Europe’s other top divisions will be watching on as they to press ahead to thrash out a way to conclude their own campaigns.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
