Luis Diaz scored a hat-trick as Bayern Munich thrashed RB Leipzig 6-1 on Saturday to move to the top of the Bundesliga table with a dominant performance ahead of their Champions League clash against Arsenal.
Bayern responded emphatically after Borussia Dortmund moved temporarily into first place following a goalless draw at Union Berlin. The victory also ended a run of two consecutive draws for the German champions.
The result marked Bayern’s strongest performance of the season and provided a confidence boost ahead of Wednesday’s home Champions League meeting with English champions Arsenal.
Diaz Shines After Goal Drought
Diaz had faced criticism after going four league matches without scoring, but the Colombian winger delivered a decisive response against Leipzig.
Operating down the left flank, he repeatedly troubled defender Lukas Klostermann and played a central role in Bayern’s attacking display.
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“Lucho (Diaz) has had some criticism this season but he was excellent tonight. Definitely the man of the hour,” Bayern captain Joshua Kimmich said.
Harry Kane also played a key role in the victory, scoring once and providing two assists in his 100th Bundesliga appearance. Aleksandar Pavlovic and Michael Olise were also among the scorers.
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany, who was confined to his seat because of a hip complaint, oversaw a commanding performance against Leipzig manager Martin Demichelis, his former Manchester City teammate.
“You can come here and lose a match, but not like that,” Demichelis told Sky Germany.
Bayern Take Control Before Half-Time
Bayern established control early, with Diaz, Pavlovic and Olise finding the net before the interval.
Diaz added two more goals after the break, completing his hat-trick either side of Kane’s close-range finish.
Kane was substituted before the hour mark as Bayern managed his workload ahead of Arsenal’s visit.
Leipzig managed a late consolation through Andrija Maksimovic in stoppage time, but the goal did little to change the outcome.
Bayern have now beaten Leipzig in their last three meetings by a combined score of 17-1.
Leipzig must quickly regroup before travelling to face Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Dortmund Held to Goalless Draw in Berlin
Borussia Dortmund missed the opportunity to remain above Bayern after being held to a 0-0 draw by Union Berlin.
Dortmund had opened the season with six consecutive victories across all competitions but have struggled recently, drawing two and losing one of their last three matches.
“We simply have to get better in attack. Right now, it’s just not good enough,” Dortmund defender Waldemar Anton told Sky.
Serhou Guirassy came close to securing victory but headed narrowly wide with 11 minutes remaining in a match that produced few clear chances.
The result was the first draw between the two clubs, whose previous 16 meetings across all competitions had all produced a winner.
Dortmund also suffered a potential injury setback when substitute midfielder Konstantinos Karetsas sustained an ankle injury and required assistance to leave the pitch just eight minutes after coming on.
“Let’s hope it’s not too serious. He’s not feeling great right now,” sporting director Ole Book said.
Hamburg Upset Stuttgart as Elversberg Climb
Stuttgart suffered a setback ahead of Tuesday’s home Champions League fixture against Atletico Madrid, losing 1-0 away to Hamburg.
Miro Muheim scored the decisive goal in the 88th minute to secure victory for Hamburg.
Elsewhere, promoted Elversberg continued their impressive debut Bundesliga campaign with a 4-3 home victory over Augsburg.
Lukas Petkov, Lasse Guenther, Maximilian Rohr and Frederik Schmahl scored as Elversberg climbed to sixth in the standings. The club represents the smallest town ever to host a Bundesliga side.
Werder Bremen recovered from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 at home against Paderborn, with Niclas Fuellkrug scoring twice to extend his scoring run to five consecutive Bundesliga matches.
Mainz also claimed an important victory, beating Schalke 1-0 away through a first-half goal from Phillip Tietz to move into fifth place.
Bayern’s emphatic win put them at the top of the table, while Dortmund’s dropped points underlined the changing momentum in the Bundesliga race.
