This archive report was first published on 17 May 2020.
On May 17, 2020, the Bundesliga resumed its season behind closed doors, with Borussia Dortmund facing off against Schalke in a highly anticipated match.
Despite the eerie atmosphere at Dortmund's iconic Signal Iduna Park stadium, the team managed to secure a convincing 4-0 win over their near neighbors, with Erling Braut Haaland scoring the opening goal with a trademark cool finish.
Haaland's goal was followed by two more from Raphael Guerreiro and one from Thorgen Hazard, solidifying Dortmund's position in the league and moving them within a point of leaders Bayern Munich, who were set to play on Sunday.
The match was played under strict hygiene protocols, with players arriving on multiple buses, using separate changing rooms, and entering the pitch by different routes. The coaching staff and substitutes wore masks and maintained a two-meter distance from each other.
As the game began, the eerie silence was only broken by the referee's whistle for kick-off, before being played out to the sound of echoed applause or yelled instructions from the dug-outs.
Despite the absence of fans, the Dortmund players still managed to perform their trademark salute to the empty stands at the final whistle, standing apart rather than holding hands.
