Bayern win Der Klassiker, WSL sees season canceled, and more: Freedom Kicks for May 26, 2020

Happy Wednesday, folks. For those of us in D.C. and Northern Virginia, it looks like the phased reopening of our lives could begin as soon as Friday, which could be good news for D.C. United, Loudoun United, and the Washington Spirit.

For now, we have Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga action along with live soccer in Costa Rica, Czech Republic, the Faroe Islands, Hungary, Poland, and South Korea (if you got up early this morning). Until the rest of the matches kick off today, here’s the news.

Bayern beat Dortmund to close in on title - BBC

Bayern Munich are fully in the driver’s seat in the Bundesliga, beating Borussia Dortmund in Der Klassiker 1-0 to go up 7 points with 6 matches to play.

Women’s Super League & Women’s Championship seasons ended immediately - BBC

England’s FA has ended the Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship seasons. It’s unclear if there will be a champion declared or promotion/relegation. Currently, Manchester City holds a 1 point lead over Chelsea in the table, but Chelsea has played 1 fewer match.

LAFC restructure deal with Banc of California, will seek new naming-rights partner for stadium - MLS

Los Angeles Football Club could soon have a new name for their stadium. That could be a land record for a naming rights deal.

Is Alphonso Davies already the world’s best left-back? - The Athletic

Alphonso Davies is terrific, but let’s calm our nerves on the best left back in the world talk. I will not accept any claim for best left back on earth that is not Marcelo Vieira da Silva Júnior of Real Madrid . You could argue Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson, but you are welcome to be incorrect!

Pro Soccer USA to cease operations for remainder of 2020 - Pro Soccer USA

Sad to see Pro Soccer USA go on hiatus for the rest of 2020. In a nation where soccer is likely to be the first pro sport to return, having fewer soccer journalists working is a bad thing.

Liga MX warned by FIFA over pro/rel suspension, multi-team ownerships - ESPNFC

Liga MX says that FIFA warned them over the suspension of promotion/relegation for 5 seasons and turning the 2nd division into a youth league. They also have concerns over ownership groups having control of more than 1 team. Now, for those pro/rel stans out there, calm down before you go out and proclaim to the world that FIFA just said pro/rel is the only way to go, because Liga MX already has lost one team this year. They need to get their house in order, and suspending pro/rel may be the way for them to do it.

Each NWSL market’s reopening status - All For XI

A running tally of all the NWSL teams and whether their location allows for them to resume workouts. The Washington Spirit could be officially back to individual workouts as soon as Northern Virginia opens back up.

D.C. Lottery says its sports betting platform will launch by the end of May - Washington Post

Sports betting in the District could be here by this weekend, with an app ready to take bets beginning next week.

Finally, as the proud owner of an Xbox One and FIFA 20 for a grand total of 2.5 weeks, I entered the FIFA tourney run by the Tried and True Podcast, and your boy is somehow in it and representing for Black & Red United! I pulled off the upset in the Round of 16 last night (don’t let the seeding fool you) and will move onto the quarterfinals later on this week. Pray I can score a goal against whoever I face.