Berlin (AFP)

Bayern Munich atomized at home Frankfurt 5-2 on Saturday and put themselves in the best possible position before their trip to Dortmund on Tuesday for a "Klassiker" behind closed doors, coronavirus forces, which could already be decisive for the title.

The "Rekordmeister", which aims for an eighth consecutive championship title, has 27 points after four days ahead of Dortmund, who won 2-0 at Wolfsburg. Leverkusen follows at eight points and Mönchengladbach at nine.

With this victory, Bayern has even offered a joker, since it will always be at the top of the championship, whatever happens, Tuesday evening after the Klassiker: with a point in advance in the event of defeat, but seven in case of victory! Suffice to say that six days from the end, mass would be almost said.

At the request of the German Football League, a minute of silence was observed before the kick-off of all the matches this weekend in tribute to the deaths of the coronavirus, more than 8,200 in Germany and nearly 340,000 worldwide . The players wore black armbands.

The same mourning protocol will be renewed on the next day Tuesday and Wednesday.

Little by little, Germany is getting used to these strange matches without supporters, and without these popular platforms which made all the salt of the Bundesliga.

- "Optional" soundtrack -

No cry or applause no longer accompanies the hottest goals or actions, even if some viewers may have had the illusion: Sky, the broadcaster of matches in Germany, indeed offers an optional sound track broadcasting throughout the game recorded songs.

But in stadiums, the only sound is that of the echo of the players' cries, amplified by the stands. No club has broadcast ambient sound this weekend.

The friendly pre-match protocol no longer exists, the goals are no longer celebrated by hugs, coaches and substitutes wear masks and keep their distance from each other.

Despite all this, the German experience is envious on the football planet. On Saturday, Spain became the second major country to announce a resumption of its championship, "in the week of June 8". In conditions that will resemble those of Germany.

In its Allianz Arena stadium, Munich took a real revenge after the 5-1 beating suffered in the first leg, which had caused the dismissal of coach Niko Kovac, replaced since by Hansi Flick.

At the break, the Bavarians had already demonstrated their superiority by Leon Goretzka (1-0, 17th) and Thomas Müller (2-0, 41st). Robert Lewandowski of the header, on a Kingsley Coman cross, spiked the bill after the locker room (3-0, 46th).

- Hummels hit -

At 3-0, Bayern allowed five minutes of relaxation, and Frankfurt came back against all odds at 3-2, thanks to a double from Martin Hinteregger (52nd and 55th). But the visitors did not dream long: Alphonso Davies, the young Canadian talent, set the record straight a few minutes later (4-2, 61st), and Hinteregger scored again, but against his side this times, under pressure from Gnabry and Müller (5-2, 74th).

In the other matches on Saturday, Dortmund went to win 2-0 at Wolfsburg, without panache but with maximum efficiency (two shots on target, two goals), thanks to Raphaël Guerreiro (32nd) and Achraf Hakimi (78th).

The victory could cost him dearly for the "Klassiker": his defender Mats Hummels, released at half-time, suffers from the Achilles tendon. His presence on Tuesday is not guaranteed.

In the other shock of this Saturday, which pitted two contenders for the Champions League Mönchengladbach and Leverkusen, it was the Bayer who succeeded in the very good operation.

By winning 3-1 at Mönchengladbach, "despite" the 13,000 effigies of cardboard supporters who sat in the stands of Borussia-Park, to try to forget the camera, Leverkusen provisionally took third place with 53 points and one step ahead of Mönchengladbach.

A double from the nugget Kai Havertz (7th and 58th) and a goal from Sven Bender (81st) knelt the "Foals", who however responded with a goal from Marcus Thuram.

© 2020 AFP