Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich comfortably beat Union Berlin in another strange game as the league’s return continued during the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It has been allowed to restart without fans, most people off the pitch wearing masks and muted goal celebrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Robert Lewandowski gave the champions the lead with a penalty – his 40th goal in 34 Bayern games this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And Benjamin Pavard headed in a late second from Joshua Kimmich’s corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saturday’s games gave us an\u00a0indication of what football will look like\u00a0for the foreseeable future, as the Bundesliga became the first elite league to return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And it was more of the same on Sunday, with substitutes and coaches socially distancing on the bench – including using the front rows of the otherwise empty stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The footballs were disinfected by ball boys and left in certain spots around the pitch, rather than handing them directly to the players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even goal celebrations were mostly done without embracing, although Pavard hugged David Alaba after his late goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Players and coaches were quarantined in their team hotels this week, undergoing regular coronavirus testing and only leaving to go to training together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Union Berlin coach Urs Fischer had to miss this match because he broke quarantine when his father-in-law died.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lack of fans was a real shame for Union, whose link with their supporters is legendary in Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is their first ever season in the top flight, with the fixture against Bayern – who have won the past seven Bundesliga titles – always one of the games fans look forward to the most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bayern were comfortable winners in the end, despite only having three shots on target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thomas Muller had a goal ruled out by the video assistant referee for offside before Lewandowski scored the opener following a foul by Neven Subotic on Leon Goretzka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pavard’s header with 10 minutes to go wrapped up the victory to take them four points above Borussia Dortmund at the top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We are happy to have controlled the game and to have brought the three points home,” said Bayern captain Manuel Neuer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“In games without fans the minutes are very long until the final whistle.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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