Bayern Munich delivered an emphatic response to two successive draws just days before Arsenal arrive at the Allianz Arena, sweeping aside RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga.
Bayern Munich sent a warning to Arsenal before Wednesday’s Champions League meeting by demolishing RB Leipzig 6-1 at the Allianz Arena on Saturday.
Luis Diaz scored a hat-trick as Bayern returned to the top of the Bundesliga after successive draws, although Arsenal will not have to contend with every member of the attack that overwhelmed Leipzig.
Michael Olise, who scored Bayern’s third goal, is suspended for the meeting with Mikel Arteta’s side.
Bayern were already three goals ahead by half-time.
Diaz opened the scoring in the 12th minute after running on to a through-ball from Joshua Kimmich, before helping create the second for Aleksandar Pavlovic in the 26th minute.
Olise added the third eight minutes later, combining with Harry Kane before scoring from distance.
Any hope Leipzig had of changing the direction of the game disappeared almost immediately after the interval.
Diaz scored his second just 95 seconds into the second half after a pass from Kane, before the England striker converted Nathaniel Brown’s pullback to make it 5-0.
Diaz completed his hat-trick in the 69th minute with a curling effort from around 20 yards. Andrija Maksimovic scored Leipzig’s consolation in stoppage time.
The former Liverpool star was central to almost everything Bayern did, finishing the match with three goals and an assist, while Kane grabbed two assists and a goal. His goal took him to 11 for club and country this season, with Olise’s strike his ninth of the campaign.
The size of the victory was particularly notable given Leipzig’s form going into the game. They had scored six against Eintracht Frankfurt in their previous Bundesliga fixture before beating PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.
Bayern, meanwhile, had drawn their previous two games against Augsburg and Viking but Saturday’s response was emphatic.
The result also allowed Bayern to take advantage of Borussia Dortmund’s goalless draw away to Union Berlin. The two clubs ended Saturday level on 14 points from six Bundesliga matches, with Bayern ahead on goal difference, +17 to Dortmund’s +7.
Freiburg, however, on 13 points from five games, still have the opportunity to move above them by winning away to Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday.
Arsenal now head to Munich on Wednesday, October 21, for an 8pm BST kick-off knowing exactly how dangerous Bayern can be when their attack clicks.
The six goals against Leipzig came from different approaches, through runs in behind, combinations around the penalty area, long-range finishing and a close-range finisg from a pullback.
Bayern could hardly have produced a more convincing performance before Arsenal’s visit, but their two preceding draws showed they have not been untouchable.
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