Thomas Müller (from Bayern's youth system) was once again the hero as the FC Bayern Munich moved 11 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga overnight in Saturday’s hard-earned 3-1 success at home against the SV Darmstadt, a morale-boosting victory prior to the crucial Champions League last sixteen meeting with Juventus which also saw winter signing Serdar Tasci make his debut for the record champions and Mario Götze return to the matchday squad.

The 75,000 full house at the Allianz Arena saw Pep Guardiola’s men lay siege to their opponents’ goal from the start and hit the woodwork twice in the first half, but the 26th-minute opener was scored totally against the run of play by the visitors’ former FCB striker Sandro Wagner. Müller struck the long overdue equaliser four minutes after half-time and then completed his brace in majestic style with a superb 71st-minute second, before Robert Lewandowski banished any lingering doubts with the third six minutes from the end.

Win number 19 in 22 league matches this term means the table-topping Reds are up to 59 points, now 11 clear of second-placed Borussia Dortmund at least until the black-and-yellows play Leverkusen on Sunday. The Bavarians are back in action on Tuesday in the European showdown with Juve in Turin, before the Bundesliga trip to Wolfsburg next Saturday.