The outbreak of the coronavirus has left the sporting world in shock, with a massively depleted calendar of events. But, there could yet be hope at the end of the tunnel as club teams in Germany have returned to training for the first time since the Bundesliga was postponed on the 13th March. The date of the 30th April is the soonest that action may return in one of the leading leagues in Europe, but could this just be a false dawn?
That date could yet be pushed back further if the government believes that it is impossible to start competitions again. However, the fact that clubs are back in training can only be seen as a positive for fans around the world, as the craving for live sport continues to build. To date, Germany have had 103,375 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 1,810 deaths.
Which Bundesliga Clubs Were Back In Training?
There were a host of Bundesliga clubs back in training this week. Bayern Munich trained in small group of five without any contact, while that tactic was also mirrored by both Wolfsburg and Borussia Monchengladbach.
Padderborn, who are currently rock-bottom of the division also trained in small groups, with the manager of the minnows stating that it is important for his players to get back into the groove of playing ahead of the expected date of resumption.
Reporters and photographers were also in attendance to capture the moment that the players were reunited. The plan for training was very similar across the board, with all teams doing a quick warm-up before doing running and shooting plays. Social distancing was still on full display, which meant that no practise game ended the session. Bayern have been revolutionising their training over the past two weeks, with the club using cyber training, which means training through a group video.
Are We Closer To A Return To Bundesliga Action?
The answer to whether we are any closer to a return to live action still isn’t clear. The governing body in Germany has revealed that there is still no date on the competition resuming, which means a delay could still be a likely scenario. However, just having the players training has had a profound effect on the world of football, as there is now hope that there could be light at the end of the tunnel.
It has been a heartwarming few weeks for Bundesliga clubs, as they have all played their part to ensure that none of them struggle through the pandemic. Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich all teamed up a few weeks ago to fund a financial package that can be used by any team in the top two divisions to ensure that staff and players can be paid during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Dortmund also opened the doors to their stadium for patients with suspected cases of COVID-19. When play resumes, Bayern will hold a four-point advantage over Dortmund at the top of the table.
