19 May 2020, by Carl Lewis

Bundesliga Talking Points – Matchday 26

The Bundesliga returned albeit in weird Covid-19 circumstances but at least we got some great action from Germany despite the fact that are no fans in the stadiums.

We go over the talking points of the league including the best players, biggest takeouts and biggest news.

Brandt & Haverts dazzle in Matchday 26

German wunderkind Kai Havertz scored a brace as Bayer Leverkusen overcame Werder Bremen 4-1 on Matchday 26, continuing their impressive form with a seventh win in nine league outings in 2020.

Kai Havertz in the Bundesliga since the turn of the year:

• 9 appearances
• 5 goals
• 4 assists

Inevitable. ?? pic.twitter.com/iEpB0ccloC

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) May 18, 2020

The 24-year-old Julian Brandt was instrumental in Dortmund’s 4-0 thrashing of Schalke over the weekend picking two assists to supplement his superb play throughout the derby. Might have been the best player of the weekend.

Teenager gets his chance

Florian Wirtz made history on Monday by becoming the youngest Bayer Leverkusen player ever to make his debut in the Bundesliga, taking the crown off teammate Kai Havertz.

Florian Wirtz could also become the youngest goalscorer in Bundesliga history with a goal tonight ? pic.twitter.com/zYcOqtj5M5

— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) May 18, 2020

Wirtz dislodged Havertz as the club’s all-time youngest player who made his top-flight debut on Matchday 7 of the 2016/17 campaign – incidentally also against Bremen – at the age of 17 years 126 days.

Hertha Celebrations

There were strict instructions for players to avoid group celebrations which is usually a big part of football because of the health and safety regulations for the Bundesliga restart.

Unfortunately, Hertha Berlin players were unable to restrain their joy and celebrated in the usual fashion during their 3-0 win over Hoffenheim.

Boyata auf Instagram: “It wasn’t a kiss, neither a celebration. I apologize for putting my hands on Grujic’s face. I was giving him instructions about a set piece. We must definitely be careful now that we play under this situation. We have to adapt our way to play or celebrate.” pic.twitter.com/ayZHIF1UEL

— HERTHA BSC EDITS (@EditsBsc) May 17, 2020

Goalscorer Vedad Ibisevic said:

“I am sorry but we are passionate about footballers, not robots. I asked our doctor before the game if the goal would still count if we did that. That was for me the most important thing.”

Lewandowski & Haaland score

The more things change the more things stay the same? Well, at least the goal-scoring department as the Bundesliga’s best strikers continued where they left off.

Who else but Erling Haaland scored the first goal after the re-start? It was the Norwegians tenth Bundesliga goal, his celebration, where he and teammates practised social distancing is also quite an image.

Socially distanced celebration from Haaland #BundesligaIsBack pic.twitter.com/B7aKB62c2H

— Ben Senior (@BenSenior_) May 16, 2020

The league’s top scorer Robert Lewandowski scored his 26th goal of the Bundesliga season, and 40th in all competitions, to keep Bayern Munich four points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table.

No spectators at stadiums

The Bundesliga’s is back but the league’s well-renowned fan base will not be joining them because of Covid-19.

Dortmund coach Lucien Favre:

“It is very strange. You have no noise, you take a shot on the goal, you play a great pass, you score a goal and, nothing. Nothing happens.”

For Bayern Much’s veteran forward Thomas Mueller the atmosphere reminded him of “old men’s games played in the afternoon.”