Three sendings off in the first half, something that has never happened before in the Bundesliga – then FC Bayern Munich and SV Darmstadt 98 met (October 28, 2023). That’s not the only reason you won’t forget the game so quickly. Ultimately, Bayern won 8-0 (0-0) and set a new club record.
It started with the record game being sent off in the 4th minute, when Joshua Kimmich only knew how to help himself against Marvin Mehlem with an emergency brake. Kimmich saw red, but Bayern didn’t play outnumbered for long. Darmstadt’s Klaus Gjasula (21st minute) and Matej Maglica (41st) also saw red in the first half. “The first half was bizarre,” commented Bayern captain Manuel Neuer on his first game after a long injury break.
Only goals weren’t scored. Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel was not at all happy with this part of the game. “There was a lack of intensity in our game, with the ball and without the ball”said Tuchel in an interview with ARD radio. “We definitely wanted to do better in the second half. And we managed to do that.”
And Tuchel’s Bayern were actually unrecognizable after the break – and not just because they were constantly cheering: Harry Kane (52nd, 69th, 88th) scored three goals, Leroy Sané (56th, 64th) and Jamal Musiala (60th, 76th) scored twice each. Thomas Müller (71st) was also successful. Never before had FC Bayern scored more than seven goals in one half in the Bundesliga.
Bayern’s new player also had to parry balls
National goalkeeper Neuer watched from a safe distance as his Bayern scored goal after goal. He was seriously injured on a ski tour following the 2022 World Cup and has been out since then.
During his comeback, Neuer also had to parry balls, especially in the first half. Darmstadt was an unpleasant opponent for Bayern. The statistics showed more shots on goal from Darmstadt at the break, but they just didn’t score. Which was also due to Neuer. He first held against Tim Skarke (27th) and then also against Mehlem (36th). “I’m glad I’m back. This is a gift for me”said Neuer in an interview with ARD radio.
From his own half – Bayern’s Kane hits fantastically
Neuer wasn’t the outstanding player, it was Harry Kane, and not just because of his three goals. He scored FC Bayern’s first goal with a header and the last from close range and with his foot. And then there was his second goal, which will not be forgotten: how Kane got the ball in his own half, how he raised his head and saw that goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen was standing a few meters in front of the goal. How he actually shot and hit.
Kane, 30, has already scored twelve goals in just nine Bundesliga games. But Kane doesn’t just score goals, he is also a storming playmaker. He recognizes spaces where others only see opponents. And he plays really fine passes, like in the tenth minute against Darmstadt when he put Sané in the spotlight. In this situation, Sané failed and later scored twice more. He’s also in great shape right now.
Eight goals conceded in 37 minutes – Darmstadt’s slump
That can’t be said about their opponent Darmstadt 98, conceding eight goals in just 37 minutes is annoying even for a newly promoted team. Even when the opponent is Bayern and your own team is outnumbered. “I haven’t conceded eight goals in my entire career. That’s very, very disappointing,” said goalkeeper Schuhen in an interview with ARD radio.
Darmstadt had played a really good game until shortly before the break, the defensive spacing and overall organization were right. And coach Torsten Lieberknecht’s team was courageous going forward, only failing to score a goal. Then Maglica also saw red and Darmstadt collapsed.
Darmstadt welcomes Bochum, Bayern against BVB
They now have to get their points against other clubs in Darmstadt, that’s not a surprise. If the Hessians should score points in the next game, then the SVD will host VfL Bochum at the start of the next matchday (Friday, November 3rd, 2023 at 8:30 p.m.). Bayern are challenged in the top game in Dortmund (Saturday, 6:30 p.m.).