MUNICH (AP) — Harry Kane scored from inside his own half en route to a Bundesliga hat trick and Manuel Neuer played for Bayern Munich for the first time this year as the German defending champions won beat Darmstadt 8-0 on Saturday, with three red cards. in the first half and eight goals after the break.
The three reds in the first half – including two for Darmstadt – were a first in Bundesliga history. Bayern then scored all eight goals in less than 40 minutes in the second half. Kane got the fifth with a spectacular long shot from the Bayern half after spotting the goalkeeper was off his line.
“It was a nice hat trick, some nice goals,” Kane said. “It’s a credit to the team. I’ve said it before, with these players around me I know I’m going to get chances. So I just have to make sure I’m in the right place , at the right time.
Bayern moved to the top of the Bundesliga with the win and have 34 goals in nine matches, but could be overtaken on Sunday if Bayer Leverkusen beat Freiburg.
Goalkeeper Neuer was cheered by Bayern fans on his return to action – after breaking his leg skiing while on holiday in December – before an early shock when Bayern fell to 10 men after just five minutes.
Joshua Kimmich gave the ball away outside his own penalty area and fouled Marvin Mehlem as he tried to recover it, earning him a straight red card for denying a clear chance to score . It was Bayern’s first red card in the Bundesliga for 26 years and Kimmich is expected to be suspended when Bayern face Borussia Dortmund in the ‘Klassiker’ next week.
However, at halftime Bayern had 10 players compared to Darmstadt’s nine.
Darmstadt’s Klaus Gjasula was sent off for a last-man foul on Konrad Laimer. In an unusual case of video review allowing two decisions to be overturned at once, the referee first awarded a penalty and a yellow card, but later changed his decision to a red and a free kick outside the surface. There was a third sending off for the same offense before half-time when Matej Maglica brought Kane down.
When Kane opened the scoring with a diving header in the 51st minute, Darmstadt collapsed.
Leroy Sané and Jamal Musiala scored twice each, and Thomas Müller once, along with Kane’s long-range strike, as Bayern quickly turned the match into a rout. Kane completed his hat trick on a pass from Sané in the 88th for his 12th goal in nine games since joining Bayern from Tottenham in August.
Neuer faced four shots on target and made a notable save to keep out a Mehlem strike with the score at 0-0. Coach Thomas Tuchel said the goalkeeper “played sensationally”, especially given his long recovery.
“I have rarely been so happy as this, to have finally succeeded and that so many of those who were with me are in the stadium today,” Neuer said.
Neuer, 37, had to undergo further surgery in the offseason to remove metal implants from his leg and his fitness was a major topic during the transfer window. At one point, general manager Jan-Christian Dreesen admitted that Bayern tried to sign Kepa Arrizabalaga, who ended up joining Real Madrid on loan.
Neuer last played for Bayern on November 12, 2022, and his last match of any kind took place on December 1 as Germany exited the World Cup in the group stage. He broke his leg the following week.
INJURIES AS LEIPZIG WINS 6-0
Leipzig secured a 6-0 victory over Cologne thanks to two goals from Loïs Openda, but are concerned about apparent injuries to Spanish midfielder Dani Olmo and German striker Timo Werner.
Werner left the match with a head injury in the 63rd minute after opening the scoring earlier with a penalty. Olmo, who returned last week after more than a month out with a knee injury, lasted just eight minutes off the bench before leaving the field holding his left shoulder. Leipzig is fourth, three points behind Bayern. Cologne is in the relegation zone.
TENTH DEFEAT FOR THE UNION
Union Berlin lost their 10th consecutive match in all competitions as a dream first season in the Champions League continued its nightmarish turn. Werder Bremen won 2-0 as Union midfielder Rani Khedira was sent off for a dangerous tackle when his foot hit an opponent in the chest.
Leonardo Bonucci was back in the Union squad after being an unused substitute in the last two games, but striker David Datro Fofana, on loan from Chelsea, missed the match because the Union suspended him after refusing to shake Fischer’s hand when he was replaced on Tuesday. -0 defeat against Naples. Fofana will also miss the German Union Cup match in Stuttgart on Tuesday.
THE STRUGGLES OF STUTTGART
Stuttgart started the day in second place, powered by Serhou Guirassy, who leads the league with 14 goals in eight games, but he was absent due to an injury picked up in last week’s win over Union . Stuttgart lost 3-2 against Hoffenheim in his absence.
Augsburg recovered from 2-1 down to beat Wolfsburg 3-2 despite Felix Uduokhai being sent off late in the match. Borussia Moenchengladbach beat Heidenheim 2-1.
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