Face masks, disinfected footballs ... and Bayern Munich win: the Bundesliga restart – in pictures

With strict health protocols in place, the German top-flight returned to action last weekend

BUNDESLIGA RETURNS TO ACTION - WEEK 1: BORUSSIA DORTMUND 4 SCHALKE 0. Raphael Guerreiro scores Dortmund's second goal at Westfalenstadion on May 16, 2020. Getty

BORUSSIA DORTMUND 4 SCHALKE 0. Journalists covering the match stick to social-distancing protocols. AFP

AUGSBURG 1 WOLFSBURG 2. Noah Sarenren Bazee of Augsburg is fouled by Wolfsburg's Felix Klaus at the WWK Arena on May 16, 2020. Getty

AUGSBURG 1 WOLFSBURG 2. Wolfsburg's Daniel Ginczek, left, celebrates scoring social-distancing style, with his team-mate Kevin Mbabu. AFP

FORTUNA DUSSELDORF 0 PADERBORN 0. Paderborn's Jamillu Collins and Matthias Zimmermann of Fortuna Dusseldorf battle for possession at the Esprit Arena on May 16, 2020. AFP

FORTUNA DUSSELDORF 0 PADERBORN 0. A football is disinfected during the match. AFP

RB LEIPZIG 1 FREIBURG 1. Leipzig's Timo Werner crosses the ball under pressure from Nico Schlotterbeck of Freiburg at the Red Bull Arena on May 16, 2020. EPA

RB LEIPZIG 1 FREIBURG 1. Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann is interviewed obeying social-distancing protocols after the match. Reuters

HOFFENHIEM 0 HERTHA BERLIN 3. Hoffenheim's Christoph Baumgartner, left, is challenged by Maximilian Mittelstadt of Hertha at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena on May 16, 2020. AP

HOFFENHIEM 0 HERTHA BERLIN 3. Hoffenheim manager Alfred Schreuder, left, wearing a mask during the game. AP

EINTRACHT FRANKFURT 1 BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH 3. Monchengladbach's Ramy Bensebaini scored his team's third goal from the spot at the Commerzbank Arena on May 16, 2020. AP

EINTRACHT FRANKFURT 1 BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH 3. Frankfurt team members wearing face masks and remain socially distanced during the game. Reuters

COLOGNE 2 MAINZ 2. Florian Kainz, right, celebrates with teammate Dominick Drexler after scoring his team's second goal at the RheinEnergieStadion on 17 May 2020. EPA

COLOGNE 2 MAINZ 2. Cologne general manager Horst Heldt wearing a protective face mask during the match. Reuters

UNION BERLIN 1 BAYERN MUNICH 2. Bayern Munich's Benjamin Pavard, hidden, scores their second goal at the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei on 17 May 2020. AFP

UNION BERLIN 1 BAYERN MUNICH 2. A Bayern Munich substitute during the match. AFP

WERDER BREMEN 1 BAYER LEVERKUSEN 4. Leverkusen's Kai Havertz scores the opening goal at the Weserstadion on May 18, 2020. AFP

WERDER BREMEN 1 BAYER LEVERKUSEN 4. Leverkusen players during the half-time break. AP

All eyes were on the Bundesliga last week as the German top-flight returned to action after the coronavirus lockdown.

The restart was generally seen as having gone off successfully, albeit in a surreal atmosphere without spectators at any of the games.

The sight of footballs being disinfected, substitutes sitting well apart in the stands, goals being celebrated with social distancing in mind and coaches wearing face masks are now set to become the new normal in the upcoming weeks.

On the pitch, it was business as usual for leaders Bayern Munich, who won 2-0 at Union Berlin.

Robert Lewandowski gave the champions the lead with a penalty – his 40th goal in 34 Bayern games this season.

Second-placed Borussia Dortmund were also victorious, thrashing local rivals Shalke 4-0 at Westfalenstadion. Teenage sriker Erling Braut Haaland produced a now trademark cool finish to open the scoring.

There were also victories for Wolfsburg, Hertha Berlin, Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen, over Augsburg, Hoffenheim, Eintracht Frankfurt and Werder Bremen, respectively.