The Bundesliga 2 match-up between Erzgebirge Aue and Sandhausen has not disappointed as German sport resumes after the coronavirus pandemic.
In just the first few minutes, Sandhusen’s Dennis Diekmeier saw a red card after committing a professional foul inside the penalty box. The penalty that followed was finished by Dimitrij Nazarov to give Erzgebirge Aue a 1-0 lead.
German football has restarted in the craziest fashion – with a goal and red card inside the first four minutes of action.
Dimitrij Nazarov gave Erzgebirge Aue an early lead as he finished from the spot coolly
Topflight action is due to follow the Bundesliga 2 opener with Borussia Dortmund and Schlake set to go head to head in the pick of the games.
League leaders and current champions Bayern Munich are also in action as they face Union Berlin as Germany becomes the first country to bring back football.
The German Football Association have set out a strict protocol to be adhered to for all players and staff for their safety with the coronavirus outbreak still gripping the sporting world.
Darmstadt players head onto the pitch before their Bundesliga 2 match against Karlsruher.
Masked cameramen were the only people watching on from the stands on Saturday
All matches are being player behind closed doors and players arrived ahead of kick-off wearing masks as cameramen also prepared for the action with safety measures in place.
Match balls were also sprayed with disinfectant, as well as the seats in the dugouts where coaches and substitutes will sit. And when those players took their place on the bench, they sat apart from each other to maintain social distancing.
It hasn’t all gone to plan, however, as Dynamdo Dresden’s Bundesliga 2 match against Hannover was called off after two Dresden players tested positive for the virus and the whole team was ordered into a two-week lockdown by regional authorities.