The English Premier League is poised to become the second major European soccer league to return to action.

The league, which has been suspended since March 13 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will restart its season on June 17 behind closed doors, the league announced Thursday. In other words, with no fans.

The German Bundesliga was the first to return, on May 16, with no spectators as well.

Two games will reportedly be played on that Wednesday with Sheffield United welcoming Aston Villa and Manchester City hosting Arsenal. By the end of the weekend, a full schedule of matches will be played.

PPL teams resumed training last week. They were allowed to begin contact training on Wednesday.

There are 92 matches left in the 2019-20season. The Telegraph reported that the EPL hopes to play all remaining contests over a six-week span, ending the season by the beginning of August.

First-place Liverpool holds a substanial 25-point lead over second-place Manchester City. The Reds could league their first EPL crown in 30 years if it wins its first match and Manchester City falls.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.