Diaz hat trick fires Bayern to 6-1 win ahead of Arsenal clash

Credit: Getty Images

Bayern Munich put on a show of strength just days before facing Arsenal in the Champions League, thrashing RB Leipzig 6-1 at the Allianz Arena with Luis Diaz scoring a hat trick. The result sent a clear message ahead of Wednesday's league phase meeting at the Emirates Stadium.

The win came after a difficult week for Vincent Kompany's side, who had conceded the Bundesliga's fastest ever goal in a draw at Augsburg before falling behind inside 90 seconds against Viking in the Champions League in Stavanger. Kompany watched Saturday's rout from the touchline but barely moved from his seat, with sporting director Max Eberl later revealing the Belgian had been ill and was also struggling with a hip problem.

Diaz opened the scoring in the 12th minute, running through the centre of Leipzig's defence to finish off a Joshua Kimmich pass. He then turned provider just before the half hour, teeing up Aleksandar Pavlovic, before Michael Olise added a third from a Harry Kane assist. The Colombian completed his hat trick in the second half with a curled finish from the left and a driven effort through the middle, scoring his first Bundesliga goals since August.

Olise suspended for Arsenal trip

Olise's goal against Leipzig came with a caveat. He will serve a suspension and miss Wednesday's Champions League match against Arsenal, leaving Bayern to lean even more heavily on Diaz's directness in behind the Arsenal defence.

Kimmich was effusive in his praise of the winger after full time, pointing to his importance as the player most likely to break beyond opposition lines. “He delivered incredible numbers for us last season,” Kimmich said, referencing Diaz's 22 goals and 17 assists across the Bundesliga and Champions League combined.

Bayern seeking revenge for Emirates defeat

Wednesday's fixture carries extra significance for Bayern given what happened in the corresponding game last season. Arsenal travelled to face the German champions and secured a 3-1 win at the Emirates Stadium, a result that marked Bayern's first defeat of that campaign following a second half surge from Mikel Arteta's side.

Eberl made clear that result has stayed in the minds of the squad. “We have memories of that game,” he said, “and we want to translate those memories into energy this Wednesday,” as quoted by The Guardian.

Saturday's result also sent Bayern top of the Bundesliga table, level on points with Borussia Dortmund but ahead on goal difference, after Freiburg suffered their first league defeat of the season at Bayer Leverkusen.

Arsenal will arrive in Munich on Wednesday facing a Bayern side that has scored freely at home and a winger in Diaz who appears to be finding top form at exactly the right moment for Kompany's team.