The Bundesliga goes into its second ghost matchday. Like last weekend, fans are not allowed to go to the stadiums because of the corona pandemic. The Berlin derby will kick off on Friday evening - the Hertha professionals have received special information.
Berlin (dpa) - The capital city duel between Hertha BSC and 1. FC Union Berlin starts this Friday evening (8.30 p.m. / DAZN and Amazon Prime Video) the 27th matchday of the Bundesliga.
The second weekend since the restart will also be a highly unusual one given the circumstances surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.
BERLIN-DERBY: Hertha trainer Bruno Labbadia has once again pointed out to his professionals that the goal was hygienic, but at the same time made them aware of the difficulties. "It's not that easy," said Labbadia, cheering as contactlessly as possible in times of the corona pandemic. Emotions are also important - especially in the derby, which has to take place in the huge Olympic stadium without spectators.
The circumstances are exceptional. The sporty charm remains. Especially since Hertha BSC after the 0-1 in the first leg against the promoted 1. FC Union Berlin absolutely wants to make amends. "We want to build on last weekend's performance and take the situation as it is," said Labbadia. Thanks to the 3-0 win in Hoffenheim, Hertha overtook the 12th-placed city rival (30) in eleventh place with 31 points.
TITLE FIGHT: Bayern Eintracht receive Frankfurt before the league summit in Dortmund. The 1: 5 debacle in the first leg in early November cost coach Niko Kovac the job. His then assistant Hansi Flick took over and led the record champions back to the top. Bayern are undefeated in 2020. The goal is: warm shooting for BVB.
The Dortmunders firmly believe in their title chance before the away game in Wolfsburg. "If you are not far from the first, of course you have to try to get past with all your might," said international Julian Brandt, four points behind Bayern. Emre Can emphasized that he had not switched to BVB to consolidate second place behind the record champions.
Who broadcasts the games? - The streaming services DAZN and Amazon Prime Video start on Friday (8.30 p.m.) with the Berlin derby between Hertha BSC and Union Berlin, on Sunday (1.30 p.m.) the match between Schalke 04 and FC Augsburg follows on both providers. All other games of the 1st and 2nd league are presented live as usual at Sky. For the last time, the pay TV broadcaster also runs the conference programs of the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga on its free TV channel Sky Sport News HD.
FANS: Like last weekend, the games take place without stadium spectators. In Mönchengladbach, fans were able to have cardboard displays installed in the Borussia Park. "This is fantastic. You actually have the feeling that you are not alone when you train in the stadium," said Borussia coach Marco Rose about the action of the fan project. The cardboard comrades will also not be able to provide loud support.
THE BUNDESLIGA AS A PIONEER: Thanks to the DFL hygiene concept, football made in Germany again stands for quality work. "We started again first, but that can also be a motivation for the other countries," said Bayern boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. Abroad looks at the league with respect and even more hope. "It looks like it will soon be possible - and in Germany it is already possible - to play without a spectator," said Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp.
DFL announcement
Table soccer Bundesliga
Scheduled matchday 27
Manuel Baum at the DFB
