Berlin (AFP)

After the shattering introduction of Bayern on Friday, Schalke's 8-0 winner in the opening match of the Bundesliga 2020-2021, Hertha Berlin took provisional second place on Saturday thanks to a 4-1 away victory in Bremen.

Augsburg (3-1 in Berlin against the Union), Friborg (3-2 at the promoted Stuttgart) and Hoffenheim (3-2 in Cologne), are the other winners of the 3.30 p.m. matches this Saturday, and join Munich in the lead with three points, but a smaller goal difference.

Frankfurt was held in check at home by the promoted Bielefeld (1-1).

But the big poster of the day, the "Borussia derby", is scheduled for 6.30pm.

Dortmund the runner-up welcomes Mönchengladbach, fourth last season and qualified for the Champions League.

True to its policy, the BVB is counting more than ever this season on the youth.

Next to the 20-year-old nuggets Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland, the Ruhr club has hired a 17-year-old English prodigy, Jude Bellingham (Birmingham City), a versatile midfielder, and an 18-year-old Brazilian attacking midfielder this year. , Reinier (Real Madrid).

Mönchengladbach for his part will again rely on his duo of French attackers Alassane Pléa and Marcus Thuram, authors of 20 goals between them last season.

- Shiver in the back -

But the "Borussia", just like Leipzig, which will only enter the competition on Sunday against Mainz (3.30 p.m.), will have watched with a shudder on Friday the demonstration of Bayern Munich, who attacked his season by scoring 8 goals for the unfortunate Schalke .

Unless surprised, this score will very probably allow the "Rekordmeister" to take the lead from the start, in his quest for a ninth consecutive league title.

Serge Gnabry managed a hat-trick, and new star recruit Leroy Sané, who arrived from Manchester City for 45 million euros, has already shown himself to his advantage with a goal and two assists in Gnabry.

For the second day, the Bavarians will travel to Hoffenheim, which snatched three points in added time in Cologne, in front of empty stands.

German politicians had yet given the green light to Bundesliga clubs on Tuesday to allow the partial return of supporters to stadiums, but on condition that the infection rate in the region remains below 35 per 100,000 inhabitants.

The figure for Munich currently exceeds 47 / 100,000, and that of Cologne has just reached the mark of 35 / 100,000, prompting the authorities to decide on Friday evening to go behind closed doors, less than 24 hours before the match, for which 9,200 supporters were able to buy a ticket.

The other stadiums have or must accommodate between 500 (Wolfsburg on Sunday) and 10,000 (Dortmund) spectators, according to a percentage of the total capacity of the speakers, which varies by region.

The Bundesliga was the first major league to resume in mid-May, behind closed doors, after the coronavirus break, in large part because at the time Germany had controlled the epidemic better than most of its European neighbors.

© 2020 AFP