Borussia Dortmund players paid tribute after victory to hardcore fans who would have been roaring from the iconic South Bank, the Yellow Wall, had football not been halted by the COVID-19 pandemic since mid-March in Germany and across the world.

Yesterday's Revierderby saw Dortmund past Schalke by 4-0 with 19-year-old Norwegian sensation Erling Haaland claiming the first goal in Germany's top flight for over two months in the 29th minute of the game. 

Portuguese midfielder Raphael Guerreiro added two more goals and Belgium international Hazard also got on the scoresheet as Dortmund climbed to 54 points, one behind defending champions Bayern, who are in action at Union Berlin on Sunday.

When Schalke brought on Timo Becker to replace Jonjoe Kenny in the 87th minute at the 80,000-capacity Signal Iduna Park it was the first time in Bundesliga history a team had made five substitutions after FIFA announced the temporary rule change.

Dortmund is now short of Bayern Munich at top of the standing by one point.

Muted Celebration

As fans weren't allowed in the stadium, one can even here players and coaches talking on the bench from the television. 

Football without fans simply doesn't quite feel like football. Dortmund's CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke said it had been unsettling to watch the game in the club's empty Signal Iduna Park, where more than 80,000 spectators would normally have roared on the teams. It is too dangerous for crowds to gather.

"There is something surreal about it. In the two hours before the match, you receive text messages from all over the world, people who tell you that they are going to watch the match on TV," Watzke said. "And then you drive through your city and there is absolutely nothing happening. You have to get used to it."

Elsewhere, third-placed RB Leipzig suffered a major setback in their title challenge when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Freiburg.

Leipzig, who used airplane stairs in the stadium to keep their substitutes in the stands and at a safe distance from the bench, are now on 51 points, four behind Bayern who visit lowly Union Berlin on Sunday.

Hertha Berlin coach Bruno Labbadia enjoyed a winning debut as his side enjoyed a 3-0 victory at Hoffenheim that moved them further away from the relegation zone and into 11th place.

VfL Wolfsburg reignited their hopes of Europa League football next season with a 2-1 win at Augsburg courtesy of Daniel Ginczek's stoppage-time winner that moved them up to sixth on 39.

Paderborn played out a goalless draw with Fortuna Dusseldorf.

(With input from agencies)