The Japan Times - Kane nets hat-trick as Bayern thrash Darmstadt on Neuer's return

Kane lobbed goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen from the centre circle to score Bayern's fifth and his second as Bayern tore Darmstadt apart on a rollercoaster afternoon for the champions.

As veteran keeper Neuer made his return after almost a year out with a broken leg, the game began in the worst possible way for Bayern.

In a game which saw three red cards before half-time for the first time in Bundesliga history, Joshua Kimmich was the first to go for an early bath.

The Bayern midfielder was sent off for bringing down Marvin Mehlem in front of goal after he lost the ball too easily in front of goal.

Kimmich will now miss next weekend's showdown with Borussia Dortmund.

Darmstadt's hopes of a famous win were dashed just 17 minutes later, when Klaus Gjasula was given a somewhat harsh red card for tripping Bayern's Konrad Laimer on the edge of the area.

The visitors then went down to nine men just before half-time after Matej Maglica was sent off for an almost identical challenge on Kane.

Leroy Sane had a goal ruled out for offside shortly before the break, but Bayern burst out of the blocks in the second half with seven goals in 25 minutes.

Kane finally broke the deadlock with a low header form close range, before Sane doubled the lead with a tap-in moments later.

Jamal Musiala and Sane then put the game beyond Darmstadt's reach with two elegant long-range finishes in quick succession.

Kane delivered the cherry on the cake with his long-range screamer, before Thomas Mueller and Musiala added a sixth and a seventh.

The England captain scored his third just two minutes from time, completing his second hat-trick in nine Bundesliga games this season.

High-fliers Stuttgart suffered their first home defeat of the season in a thrilling 3-2 derby loss to south-western neighbours Hoffenheim.

Hoffenheim hit Stuttgart on the counter-attack early on, Grischa Proemel smashing the ball in on the rebound after a sharp save from goalkeeper Alexander Nuebel.

They doubled the lead shortly afterwards, Wout Weghorst converting a penalty after Maximilian Beier was fouled in the box.

Stuttgart's day got even worse when Deniz Undav missed a penalty at the other end, but the mood changed when Chris Fuehrich grabbed a goal back for the hosts on the hour mark.

- Union in crisis -

Union Berlin extended their miserable losing run to 10 games with a 2-0 defeat away at Werder Bremen.

Union's Robin Knoche headed the ball into his own net at a Bremen free-kick shortly before half-time, before midfielder Rani Khedira was sent off for a dangerous challenge in the second half.

Marvin Ducksch added another with a dainty lob to plunge Union further into crisis.

Elsewhere, Augsburg came from behind to beat Wolfsburg 3-2 while Borussia Moenchengladbach battled to a 2-1 win over Heidenheim.

Croatia international Lovro Majer scored his first Bundesliga goal from the spot to put Wolfsburg ahead just before half-time, after Jonas Wind had cancelled out Phillip Tietz's early opener for Augsburg.

Wolfsburg looked comfortable before a bizarre Sebastiaan Bornauw own goal levelled the scores on 79 minutes, and Arne Engels nicked the winner for Augsburg minutes later.

Alassane Plea gave Gladbach an early lead and the home side looked dominant until Eren Dinkci smashed in an equaliser against the run of play on 38 minutes.

An unlucky own goal from Jonas Foehrenbach put Gladbach back in front shortly after the break.

K.Yoshida--JT