Bayern Munich's Xabi Alonso Proves Class Is Permanent in Darmstadt Win

Bayern Munich entered Tuesday's DFB-Pokal round-of-16 clash with Darmstadt as heavy favorites, but there was just a goal separating the two sides by full-time. And it came from a very unlikely source: Xabi Alonso, who marked his first-ever strike in the German Cup in style as he smashed a long-range 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 they needed Alonso's wonder goal to propel them into the Pokal quarter-final.

Alonso's goal was his crowning achievement and the defining moment of the match, but the Spaniard put on a magnificent performance overall. He was all over the pitch where needed, spraying the ball about in his typical "quarterback" role, a critical one for a Bayern side that faced a very defensive Darmstadt. According to Goal, the 34-year-old had already made 92 passes by half-time.

Tuesday's match was no anomaly, and Alonso has played very well throughout the current campaign. Unlike most players of his age, he hasn't experienced a decline relative to the previous season. Actually, he's been more consistent in 2015-16 than he was a year ago.

Fans will recall that last November, he made a shocking mistake that led to Manchester City scoring a key goal in the Champions League. More came in the spring, notably a similar slip-up against Porto in the first leg of their quarter-finals tie.

A big difference is that this season, Alonso's minutes have been curbed to an extent. Last fall, he rarely ever had a break—a tough ask of a central midfielder well into his 30s. But he's been kept rather fresh this season, recording (according to Transfermarkt) 1,628 minutes in all competitions.

Improved fitness among Bayern's central-midfield options has helped facilitate Alonso not being overused. There were times last season when he took to the pitch looking tired from the get-go, but in the current campaign, he's been rested when needed. As a result, and despite recently turning 34, the veteran remains a key player in this Bayern team.

Yet even despite Alonso's great form, there have been questions surrounding his future. Bild (in German) reported a week ago that Bayern are already looking for his replacement, with Borussia Monchengladbach star Granit Xhaka the leading candidate. The tabloid noted that the Switzerland international has a release clause of €25 million that will come into effect in 2017, meaning he could cost a pretty penny if Bayern were to try to sign him next summer. But they have supposedly already made contact with Xhaka's agent this summer, perhaps having seen Alonso's physical limitations.

Bayern will, of course, have to replace Alonso in the long term, and one advantage Xhaka has is that he is 11 years younger. At the same time, there remains the question of when: Will Bayern make a move to sign a replacement this winter? Next summer? Or the following year? The decision could and depend at least in part on how the current staff fare in the weeks to come.

Games like Tuesday's can be a reminder that veterans like the Spaniard still can play a role even in a competitive team like Bayern, and even in a decisive way in a single-elimination cup match.

Alonso has had a great season thus far, and he put his best foot forward against Darmstadt. As the saying goes, "Form may be temporary, but class is permanent."

@Mr_Bundesliga