ESPN's lead Bundesliga commentator Derek Rae explains why it's impossible to fully discuss league matters at the moment without the COVID-19 factor, as the pandemic impacts everyday German life.
I realise COVID-19 is not what every Bundesliga fan wants to read about, but it's undeniably having a huge say in the course of this season for players and fans alike. You can't really follow German football right now without understanding that the virus off the pitch underpins virtually every narrative on it. The news that broke on Wednesday confirming positive tests for Bayern Munich's unvaccinated players, Joshua Kimmich and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, merely took it to another level.