Lewandowski Nets His 40th as FC Bayern Does the Necessary

This was a match 1. FC Union Berlin supporters had circled on their calendars for a long time.

Now, not only was the date wrong, but they didn't even have a chance to see it unfold in person.

Die Eisernen -- the Iron Ones -- are taking their maiden voyage in the Bundesliga this season, and they've done one of the nation's most ardent fans proud. They're cemented in mid-table with another campaign at the top flight being assured.

So they'll get another shot at a home fixture with the side that's won the last seven league titles.

 

The way they played FC Bayern in this one, chances are they'll get a few more.

Dudes may have wound up on the short end of an 0-2 result, but they put on a spirited display in the confines of a home stadium that woulda been rocking in normal times.

On this occasion, though, it may have had flashes of drama, but there was no suspense about the result.

Union did all it could to sit back and wait, even holding die Roten to three shots on goal, but that's all the Munich juggernaut needed. They scored on two of them to gather their three points and head straight back to Bavaria.

 

For the fifth year in a row, Polish international Robert Lewandowski reached the 40-goal plateau, this time by doing what it seems he always does, nailing a shot from the spot.

That strike was all they needed, but Benjamin Pavard still popped a goal ten minutes from time to add a bitta icing on the cake:

 

The concept of stadium as soundstage is gradually becoming normal, as it'll have to be for the foreseeable future, not just in football, but for every major sport on the globe, with the possible exception of Sweden and -- who else? -- Belarus.

It's strange enough to see a parade of substitutes entering a match that isn't a friendly:

• Yesterday's Rivierderby saw Schalke send in all five of theirs, while Dortmund called upon four; and
• Union used their special allotment of five, while FC Bayern kept to the usual three.

While FIFA was surely erring on the side of caution, appearances so far are that managers are going deep into their roster because it's their choice and not their need.

 

With no supporters in attendance, celebrations may have been authentic but for some reason looked contrived. They look like birthday parties with no guests.

And that elbow-bumping thing has got to go, hopefully joining the high-five that's disappeared everywhere except with one awkwardling lingering sub-demographic:

 

Specifically, the ones who've been stranded in the 70s.

And while their Vietnam actually was Vietnam -- except for the privileged few -- they at least knew where the bullets were coming from.

Not so with Covid-19, where players must be quarantined in hotels all week and have their temperatures constantly taken just to earn their wages and entertain the rest of us, who must remain at least as vigilant.

 

Strange times have begotten a strange football season.

It's not assured, but hopefully, this will be the only one.