Rampant Bayern score eight as Neuer returns

FC Bayern downed Darmstadt 8-0 on Saturday to claim top spot in the table, at least overnight. The 75,000 full house at the Allianz Arena saw a most remarkable game with three red cards and no goals in the first half and all eight goals after the restart. Harry Kane netted a hat-trick and Leroy Sané and Jamal Musiala both bagged a brace, with sub Thomas Müller scoring one. The match also marked the return of Manuel Neuer after almost a year on the sidelines.

Munich lined up with Neuer in goal and Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt, Minjae Kim and Alphonso Davies in defence. Konrad Laimer and Joshua Kimmich anchored a midfield featuring Kingsley Coman, Musiala and Sané, with Kane up front. Frans Krätzig, Müller, Mathys Tel, Aleksandar Pavlović and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting took over from Davies, Coman, de Ligt, Laimer and Musiala in the second half.

Three red cards

Bayern had to cope with an early setback when Kimmich was sent off for a challenge as last man inside four minutes. However, the champions tried to continue playing their way, and Sané and Kane saw efforts saved. Darmstadt's numerical advantage was gone after Klaus Gjasula upended Laimer as last man as well. Sané fired the ensuing free-kick over the bar, de Ligt seeing a header saved before Neuer denied Tim Skarke.

Coman hit the side-netting, Luca Pfeiffer fired over at the other end. Neuer made a fine save against Marvin Mehlem, but the visitors were suddenly a man down after Matej Maglica took down Kane in a similar scenario as the other red cards. Keeper Marcel Schuhen denied Kane and Sané found the net, but the linesman's flag was up.

Reds run riot

Schuhen saved from de Ligt after the restart, but Kane soon handed Bayern the lead with a diving header. The goal opened the floodgates, Laimer's square inviting Sané to double the lead. Musiala miscued a shot but soon found the bottom corner of the net from 20 yards.

Bayern were not done, even if the match was, and Sané beat Schuhen to round off his brace. Kane soon spotted Schuhen out of his goal and had a go from inside his own half, the ball hitting the back of the net sweetly on the full. The visitors were completely helpless, and Müller netted from close range before Musiala slotted home following a one-two with Müller. Kane soon rounded off his hat-trick and the final scoreline.

The result takes Bayern onto 23 points from nine matches, one clear of Leverkusen, who take on Freiburg on Sunday. The Bavarians will be back in action on Wednesday, when they travel to face Saarbrücken in the DFB Cup.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen