The top German football leagues return this weekend, among the first major competitions to continue the season following widespread postponements due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
Fans across the UK and the rest of the world tuned in on Saturday to watch the six scheduled Bundesliga games.
EVERYBODY PLEASE GO TO BED EARLY WE HAVE LIVE SOCCER TO GET UP AND WATCH IN THE MORNING! -d
— Total Soccer Show (@TotalSoccerShow) May 16, 2020
The matches were all played behind closed doors with no access for fans, social distancing enforced on the bench and balls disinfected at half-time.
These were the best of the jokes as the German Bundesliga resumed following its suspension because of the spread of coronavirus in the country:
Britain has some of the safest football leagues in Europe, but this isn't Britain…
DIS IS DER BUNDESLIGA! pic.twitter.com/8mObQxq91t
— Chris Derrer (@ChrisDerrer) May 16, 2020
Me tomorrow when I start watching bundesliga https://t.co/VjiYDRoDgj
— sacdiyo mané (@skinniar) May 15, 2020
Support local merchants when the Bundesliga starts tomorrow pic.twitter.com/IZmOiPat2S
— . (@thfcrueben) May 16, 2020
All of you weirdos looking at flowcharts to decide on a Bundesliga team instead of the time honoured tradition pic.twitter.com/WSp0dR77JP
— Eoin (@WesAppreciator) May 15, 2020
http://twitter.com/AlexBicknell89/status/1261578641512726530
I'm ready for Bundesliga pic.twitter.com/09064L0ZIc
— Joe Smith (@JoeSmith93) May 15, 2020
me and the homies after watching the bundesliga tomorrow pic.twitter.com/T3MvMlrYPc
— loszuna (@ImNotMessican) May 15, 2020
I’m all for stringent health and cleaning methods in any field, especially resumed sports like the Bundesliga, but the halftime plans by Frankfurt might be a touch extreme #DisinfectingTheirWhatNow pic.twitter.com/8yYdU1ec3Y
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) May 16, 2020
Hadn’t the heart to tell them the first Bundesliga match doesn’t kick off till 2.30 #Ultras pic.twitter.com/sClpRPwWl1
— cormac cassidy (@CassSixTimes) May 16, 2020
Got myself some new tattoos to celebrate the return of the Bundesliga #lufc pic.twitter.com/WI3wPwb8UJ
— MrPaulRobinson (@MrPaulRobinson) May 16, 2020
When the referees blow their whistle for Bundesliga games to kick off. pic.twitter.com/PA5tW9a2sD
— – (@AnfieldRd96) May 16, 2020
https://twitter.com/PKTNMBRS/status/1261609397173788672
https://twitter.com/IFTVofficial/status/1261629971048603649
https://twitter.com/LiamDerrick7/status/1261645506524086273
Bundesliga time.
(The dogs lost their ball under the couch and are waiting/asking for me to get it) pic.twitter.com/OLH8WEtmbV
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) May 16, 2020
https://twitter.com/_latinheat/status/1261651755118604290
Bundesliga players celebrating today pic.twitter.com/wwaT4x8VGr
— Sam Thomas (@SamThomas26) May 16, 2020
If a player doesn’t celebrate his goal like this il be disappointed #Bundesliga #footballisback ⚽️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/T7QWC2QplY
— Nathan Cartman (@ncartman1) May 16, 2020
Hear me out: They have Werner Herzog do Bundesliga commentary
— Drew Magary (@drewmagary) May 16, 2020
Social distancing on the bench only to come on and be part of a 4 man wall for a free kick lol waste of time. #Bundesliga
— nick maynard (@86nickAFC) May 16, 2020
https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1261718062090391554
What can #Bundesliga realistically do to make product better for viewers? I have a few ideas
– Players pick favorite song, which will be played when they score.
– Develop 10 super fans, who agree to be quarantined & stand/cheer behind each goals.
– Hasselhoff.— Maximiliano Bretos (@MaxBretosSports) May 16, 2020
https://twitter.com/TalkingTomAK/status/1261727320727052290
Now we know why they’re called Schalke 04 #Bundesliga pic.twitter.com/H3YDdKHU3i
— Carlos (@_mahir15) May 16, 2020
A list of all the bundesliga matches I’m watching this weekend pic.twitter.com/rfyeM19DlW
— ✖️ (@TheCalcioGuy) May 16, 2020
Don’t give a fuck about the Bundesliga but I doff my cap to the Germans on the ale front. #thepatheticcasuals pic.twitter.com/CSbwb7kZws
— Neil M (@WAFC_TPC) May 16, 2020
https://twitter.com/btsportfootball/status/1261622897380122624
– ¿Por qué estás tan elegante?
+ Hoy empieza la Bundesliga. pic.twitter.com/KZhjtzhapp— Iker Mallo (@Doctor_Futbol) May 16, 2020
Celebrations in 2020. pic.twitter.com/F0nrltll6C
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) May 16, 2020
https://twitter.com/cesc4official/status/1261658145803337728
I've added my own crowd noise, kinda works…#BundesligaIsBack pic.twitter.com/el3nyGtzWA
— David Cameron Walker (@D_C_W) May 16, 2020
2.30pm: “yesss football is back”
2.34pm “I’d like to welcome alongside me, Steve McManaman”
2.35pm: pic.twitter.com/f10xO33vXD— Jason (@JasonJ1987) May 16, 2020
https://twitter.com/GFFN/status/1261660219177828354
https://twitter.com/sportbible/status/1261627460908507136
https://twitter.com/BBCMOTD/status/1261630057338015746
Sounds a bit like a 5 a side in your local sports hall doesn’t it? #Bundesliga
— Laura Woods (@laura_woodsy) May 16, 2020
Diekmeier taking no chances pic.twitter.com/Ru4eIhpWL5
— GeorgeWeahsCousin (@WeahsCousin) May 16, 2020
"Dortmund are in decent form," says Steve McManaman, ignoring the reality that no one is in any form as they haven't played for two months.
— Richard Jolly (@RichJolly) May 16, 2020
Haaland scores. The most normal thing to happen to the world in months.
— Arlo White (@arlowhite) May 16, 2020
Right now I feel like the Bundesliga is and has always been the only thing I care about in the whole world
— Charlotte Wilder (@TheWilderThings) May 16, 2020
https://twitter.com/EnglishBob1/status/1261650415122251776
Gio Reyna is starting
START DRINKING AMERICA THIS IS OUR TIME#BVBS04
— The Cooligans (@SoccerCooligans) May 16, 2020
When Santa Claus comes in May just to give you coal https://t.co/FUNnAha15C
— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) May 16, 2020
Nobody:
Young American soccer players with a trace of world class potential: pic.twitter.com/citYOKKY0N
— MLS Buzz (@MLS_Buzz) May 16, 2020