Bundesliga restart confirmed for 16 May

The German league announced Thursday it has pushed back the planned restart of the Bundesliga from Friday, 15 May, until the following day.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has granted permission for the Bundesliga to resume behind closed doors with strict hygiene measures, plus regular testing of players and backroom staff.

Christian Seifert, CEO of the German Football League (DFL), confirmed on Thursday that matches will resume on Saturday, 16 May.

Second-placed Borussia Dortmund host arch rivals Schalke in the Ruhr derby in the pick of the matches on the first day back.

Defending champions Bayern Munich, who sit four points clear of Dortmund, will travel to face Union Berlin on the Sunday.

The Bundesliga will be the first of Europe's top leagues to restart since the coronavirus pandemic forced lockdown measures across the continent.

FIXTURES:

Saturday, 16 May

Borussia Dortmund vs Schalke 04

RB Leipzig vs Freiburg

Hoffenheim vs Hertha Berlin

Fortuna Duesseldorf vs Paderborn

Augsburg vs VfL Wolfsburg

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Borussia Moenchengladbach

Sunday, 17 May

Cologne vs Mainz

Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich

Monday, 18 May

Werder Bremen vs Bayer Leverkusen