since March 2014 with a penalty save as Carlo
Ancelotti's side celebrated their fifth
successive Bundesliga title triumph with a 1-0
victory that consigned Darmstadt to relegation.
With Sven Ulreich having joined Manuel Neuer on
Bayern's injury list, third-choice goalkeeper Starke
was called upon for Saturday's clash at the Allianz
Arena and proved his quality to deny former Bayern
man Hamit Altintop from the spot late on.
Having won the league in style with a resounding
6-0 thrashing of Wolfsburg last time out, Bayern
had little to play for, though Juan Bernat's 18th-
minute effort all-but ended Darmstadt's slim hopes
of survival.
A rather disjointed Bayern performance was
reflected by some wasteful finishing from
Ancelotti's men, and their bluntness in front of goal
looked set to be punished when Bernat fouled Sven
Schipplock with five minutes remaining.
It was Starke who proved to be the hero, though,
his save finally confirming Darmstadt's relegation
to the second tier.
Starke's counterpart Michael Esser was the busier
of the two goalkeepers early on, the 29-year-old
doing well to deny David Alaba and Rafinha
respectively before Bernat put the hosts in control.
Esser had no chance as - after fine play from
Franck Ribery - the former Valencia full-back
prodded home from close range at the end of a
slaloming run through Darmstadt's ramshackle
defence.
Darmstadt had Esser to thank once again as
Bayern threatened to run riot, Thomas Muller twice
denied by two excellent stops from Darmstadt's
goalkeeper.
Muller almost had an assist to his name with a
neat lay-off into Douglas Costa's path, but the
winger's venomous first-time effort was deflected
inches wide of the left-hand upright.
Bayern's leading scorer Robert Lewandowski had
his first opportunity moments after the restart, his
diving header from Rafinha's cross glancing wide
off the woodwork.
Starke was finally called into action just after the
hour, the veteran getting down well to parry away
Patrick Banggaard's goal-bound header.
Substitute Schipplock thought he had levelled
proceedings minutes later, only for the linesman's
raised offside flag to cut short Darmstadt's
celebrations.
Lewandowski had another opportunity to extend his
lead at the top of the Bundesliga scoring chart
soon after, but Esser was out quickly to deflect the
Poland striker's header over.
Bernat's clumsy foul handed the visitors a lifeline
in the closing stages, but Altintop could not apply
the finish from 12 yards as Darmstadt's two-year
stay in the Bundesliga came to an end.
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