Bayern Munich entered Tuesday's DFB-Pokal round-of-16 clash with Darmstadt as heavy favorites, but by full-time, there was just a goal separating the two sides. And it came from a very unlikely source: Xabi Alonso, who marked his first-ever goal in the German cup in style as he smashed a long-ranged volley home late in the first half.
The goal was crucial to Bayern, who made more than a few chances on the evening but, not for the first time in recent matches, struggled to put the ball into the net. The Bavarians have missed a bit of their edge in the absence of the injured Douglas Costa, and needed Alonso's wonder-goal to propel them into the Pokal quarter-final.