Bayern Munich pulverised Darmstadt 8-0 with a Harry Kane hat-trick and all the goals coming in the second half to go top of the Bundesliga, as keeper Manuel Neuer’s injury comeback was overshadowed by a record three red cards.
The hosts, playing with 10 men, were unstoppable after the break against nine-man Darmstadt, opening their account with Kane’s 52nd-minute diving header.
Leroy Sane struck twice, either side of a Jamal Musiala goal to kill off the game and Kane scored again with a stunning 60-metre looping shot from inside the Bayern half.
Thomas Mueller added another and Musiala bagged his second five minutes later before Kane completed his hat-trick with his 12th goal in nine league games.
In a topsy-turvy first half, Bayern’s Joshua Kimmich and two Darmstadt players were sent off with straight red cards, the first time this has happened in the opening 45 minutes of a Bundesliga game.
Bayern are on 23 points, one ahead of Bayer Leverkusen, who play Freiburg on Sunday. VfB Stuttgart dropped to third place on 21 points following their 3-2 home loss to Hoffenheim. Borussia Dortmund, fourth on 20, travel to Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.
