9 Bundesliga Games You Should Re-Watch While Football Is Cancelled
Yes, we know, life is pretty boring without football.
While it is far, far, far from the most pressing issue following the outbreak of the coronavirus, football is a form of escapism that is no longer available to the majority of us...well, unless you're a big fan of the Turkish Super Lig.
But, thanks to the beauty of technology, you needn't fear.
There are thousands (and we mean thousands) of football games from past times that we have the opportunity to watch again, and you'd be foolish not to get your teeth stuck in to these enthralling Bundesliga matches of times gone by.
Without further ado, here are just some (and by no means all) of the Bundesliga games you simply must watch while football is cancelled.
Dortmund 6-3 Bayern (1967/68)
What better place to start than Der Klassiker?
We have to rewind over 50 years for one of the greatest clashes of all time between German heavyweights Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, with the yellow army prevailing on this occasion – putting six past their opponents.
A hat-trick for Lothar Emmerich saw Dortmund twice come from behind following a brace from Bayern's Gustav Jung on his debut, eventually seeing BVB triumph by six goals to three.
Neither side had much of an impact on the Bundesliga table during the 1967/68 season, with Die Roten finishing fifth and Dortmund 14th, but this match lives longer in the memory than those finishing positions.
Frankfurt 4-5 Stuttgart (2014/15)
What initially may have looked like a lukewarm clash with little excitement on the cards quickly turned in to arguably the game of the 2014/15 Bundesliga season.
Having fallen behind to the Eagles early on, Stuttgart struck three times to take a commanding lead early in the second half and seemingly draw closer to another three points. However, Frankfurt had other ideas, scoring thrice themselves in just eight second-half minutes to bring the game to life.
A goal from the then lesser-known Timo Werner levelled proceedings before Christian Gentner grabbed his second of the afternoon at the Commerzbank-Arena with just six minutes remaining to steal the victory.
A late red card for Haris Seferovic added an extra element of drama to one of the most end-to-end football matches you will ever have the pleasure of witnessing.
Bayern Munich 4-3 Borussia Monchengladbach (1973/74)
With Germany's best two teams in the early 1970s coming head to head, Bayern were looking to secure a third successive Bundesliga title in the 1973/74 season but faced stiff competition from the Foals. This game proved to be pivotal in the destination of the title, with Bayern eventually beating Gladbach to the Meisterschale by just a single point.
Five goals in the opening 23 minutes made for some spectacular viewing, with Bayern fighting back from 2-1 down to take a 3-2 lead into half time. The hosts grabbed a fourth shortly after the break, and fended off a late comeback from Rainer Bonhof and Gladbach to hold on for a crucial victory.
The game was played at a scintillating pace and showcased the rise of German football in the late '60s and early '70s.
Borussia Monchengladbach 3-4 Bayern Munich (2012/13)
This game had an alarming amount of similarities to the 1973/74 clash, despite Gladbach no longer rivalling Bayern for the Bundesliga title.
There were five early goals in this one too with Franck Ribery's 18th-minute strike cutting Bayern's deficit to 3-2, before a remarkable long-range effort from the Frenchman levelled the scores just after the break.
Arjen Robben grabbed the all important winner just six minutes later - a goal which saw Die Roten finish the Bundesliga season with a record 91 points.
VFL Bochum 5-6 Bayern Munich (1976/77)
Not many teams can overturn a four-goal deficit with just 37 minutes of normal time to play, but Bayern sure as hell can.
Having gone 4-0 down after just 53 minutes, Die Roten scored five goals in the following 23 to take an astounding 5-4 lead, courtesy of strikes from the likes of Gerd Muller and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
Bochum levelled with ten minutes remaining, but an 89th-minute Uli Hoeness winner capped off a remarkable victory for Bayern, who would go on to finish an unexpected seventh in the Bundesliga, while their hosts avoided relegation by just a single point.
Borussia Dortmund 4-4 Schalke (2017/18)
The Ruhr derby is never short of excitement, but this clash back in 2017 may just be the best.
Having taken a resounding four-goal lead after just 25 minutes, hosts Dortmund looked as if they were going to stroll to an emphatic derby day victory, compiling misery on a sheepish-looking Schalke side.
But as Schalke pulled two goals back in four second-half minutes, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's red card helped spark a dramatic finale. An 86th-minute third for the visitors set up a nail-biting finish for both teams, before Naldo's superb header in the fourth minute of added time earned Schalke an unbelievable point, and stopped Dortmund claiming the bragging rights.
RB Leipzig 4-5 Bayern Munich (2016/17)
An adrenaline-fuelled thriller, two of Germany's best sides of recent times played out a match that will live long in the history of the Bundesliga. Oh yeah, and this was Leipzig's first season in the top flight...ever.
Leipzig had taken a surprise 4-2 lead after 65 minutes, putting the champions to the sword with some swashbuckling football. However, this is Bayern we're talking about, and Die Roten came roaring back, scoring an equaliser to make it 4-4 in the 91st minute.
But the giants of German football weren't finished there, with Robben netting a crucial 95th-minute winner in characteristic Bayern style, and breaking hearts in Leipzig.
Borussia Dortmund 4-4 Bayern Munich (1982/83)
The term 'rollercoaster ride' is very much applicable to this gargantuan clash, with Der Klassiker once again offering us the best of both Dortmund and Bayern.
Visiting Bayern took the lead three times, only to be pegged back on each occasion by BVB, before Dortmund themselves took charge of the match for the first time courtesy of Erdal Keser's goal to make it 4-3.
But the Bavarians never gave up, scoring two minutes later to earn a much-deserved point as the honours were rightly shared come the final whistle. Both sides were unable to challenge eventual champions Hamburg, but their clash at the Westfalenstadion would live long in the memory.
Bayer Leverkusen 4-5 Wolfsburg (2014/15)
Finishing away from Bayern and Dortmund, the 2014/15 season produced another encounter that quickly forged its name into Bundesliga history.
Visitors Wolfsburg put Leverkusen under immense pressure early on, scoring three times in the opening 29 minutes, but a brace from Son Heung-min brought the hosts back in to contention. Their revival took a hit seconds later however, when Bas Dost completed his hat-trick for Wolfsburg. Son did the same just four minutes later though, before Die Werkself grabbed an equaliser in the 72nd minute.
Emir Spahic's late red card for the hosts helped fuel a thrilling end to the match, with Dost eventually scoring his fourth of the afternoon, an incredibly timely 93rd-minute winner to silence the home fans at the BayArena.