Tip Of The Cap: Rafinha. With a back line that is still riddled with injuries, Bayern had to rely on their unheralded, yet very effective Right Back to keep the defense organized against a pesky counter attacking Darmstadt team. Rafinha's game might not have been the most noticeable, but he led the team in touches, passes and completed six of ten long balls for a 92% overall accuracy. He bombed forward, tracked back and played a solid if not unspectacular all around game.
Golf Clap: David Alaba. In the official lineup he's listed as a center back, and Alaba was surely up to the challenge of playing a big out of his natural position. He was part of a patchwork defense that kept Darmstadt at bay while also contributing to the build up play in the middle and on the left flank. He showed a great rapport with Douglas Costa on the left, a chemistry which could pay big dividends for Bayern going forward in all three competitions.
Standing Ovation: Kingsley Coman. The new loanee from the Juventus looked to build on his very strong performance against Olympiakos with a spot in the starting lineup. The 19 year old delivered with an exceptional performance for the full 90' in a loud Merck-Stadion. He terrorized the Darmstadt defense with his pace, dribbling ability, and crosses of which he led the team with seven. He also had three other key passes, also a game high. Every time the ball was at his feet, you had to pay attention, he was that electric today. This was a huge opportunity to convince Bayern management to exercise that buy option at the end of his loan and Coman made a lot of progress in convincing them to open up their pocketbook.
Meister Of The Match: Sebastian Rode. The 24 year old has always been a tantalizing talent, who has been buried on the depth chart, never before being able to ingratiate himself into a regular starting role. His performance in this game is sure to make Pep Guardiola's life much more difficult in the future when it comes to filling out his lineup card. Rode played today with a confidence and determination that seemed to spur on his teammates. His goal was a result of hard work, skill and a refusal to give up on the play, especially when his initial shot went off the woodwork. All in all, Rode made the most of this rare opportunity to play a full 90 and with the youngest lineup since Pep became manager, he made the most of his opportunity.