With Covid-19 pandemic disrupting soccer and other sporting events, many fans across the world have been ears open to catch any news regarding the return to action. Well, there is a reason for soccer fans to smile as there are plenty of soccer competitions that have braved the pandemic and returned to action! Let us walk through some of the soccer competitions that are back to our screens, albeit with no fans in stadiums.
The German Bundesliga
The German Bundesliga was the first major European soccer league to return to action in mid-may paving the way for other elite leagues across Europe to reopen. Following the stern guidelines on curbing Covid-19, the league resumed with empty stadiums.
Unlike the Spanish and English top-flight leagues, which have 20 teams, the German Bundesliga has only 18, and it is easy to see why their fixtures will round up faster. Bayern Munich sprung back to action with a bang picking up points that clinched them their 8th consecutive title.
The English Premier League
The English Premier League is arguably one of the most-watched and popular soccer competitions across the globe. After shutting down for three months, the long-awaited return finally happened on June 17, 2020. Perhaps the highlight of the return was the game where Manchester City hammered Arsenal FC 3-0.
There will be a series of thrilling matches as teams fight for the qualification to the UEFA Champions League, while others avoid sinking into the relegation zone. Liverpool look destined to get the coronation within the next few games while Manchester City look like they have cemented the second spot. The race for a third and fourth spot still looks much alive and is interesting to see who will grab the Champions League spot next season.
The English Football League is also back with Leeds and West Brom looking to win automatic promotion back to the EPL.
The Spanish LaLiga
The Spanish La Liga Santander League paused after matchday 27 on 8th March 2020 following the Covid-19 outbreak. However, after the return of many soccer leagues across the globe, the Spanish football body gave the green light to the resumption of the top Spanish league.
The league finally resumed on 11th June 2020. Barcelona and Real Madrid are the two teams for the big prize this season.
The Italian Serie A
The Serie A season came back on June 20, 2020 and the title race this time around is hot. Currently, Juventus are leading the table with Lazio sitting just a point below them. Most teams remain with just a few matches before the season winds up in a tight schedule. This is one of the leagues with a race for the title very much alive, especially with the likes of Juventus, Lazio, and Inter Milan eyeing top spot. At the bottom of the table, Brescia and Spal look certain to drop to Serie B next season.
The Coppa Italia
Before the coronavirus forced a major soccer halt, the Coppa Italia competition had reached the semi-finals stage. The first legs of these semi-finals had been played, and the first of the two-second leg ties resumed on 12th June, 2020 where Juventus edged AC Milan on away goal. On 13th June 2020, Gatusso’s Napoli held Inter Milan to a 1-1 draw and squeezed them out of the competition following their 1-0 first-leg triumph. The finals saw Napoli coming up against the old Lady in a tight match with lots of clear cut chances wasted by either side. The game eventually ended in a barren draw, but Napoli lifted the cup after overcoming Juventus 4-2 in the penalty shootout.
The Portuguese Primeira Liga
After bowing down to the coronavirus pandemic and halting its soccer competitions in March 2020, the Portuguese league is up and running again. The league resumed on 3rd June 2020 and played out in the absence of fans just like in the other leagues. The Primeira Liga is scheduled to end on 26th July 2020 when all the remaining nine fixtures will have taken place. Benfica and Porto are racing for the top spot in Portuguese top flight this season. Sporting Lisbon and Braga are fighting it out for third.
The Turkish League
The Turkish Super Lig is another top European league that is back! After initially suspending on March 18, the Turkish Super Lig resumed on June 12, 2020, and is set to complete by the end of July. Trabzonspor and Istanbul Basaksehir are tussling at the top of the table.
Wrap Up
Numerous soccer competitions have sprung back to life at the moment. We have only looked at some of the highly regarded and followed leagues across the world. Many other leagues are also resuming but others like the French Ligue 1 and the Belgian League were cancelled completely.
