Bayern Munich smash Leipzig 6-1 as Luis Díaz hits hat-trick ahead of Arsenal rematch

Bayern Munich needed a statement and delivered it with a vengeance: a 6-1 demolition of RB Leipzig at the Allianz Arena, powered by a Luis Díaz hat-trick at the best possible moment. After two frustrating away trips in the Bundesliga and Norway, the German champions turned the visit of a supposed title rival into a one-sided exhibition and warmed up in style for Wednesday's Champions League showdown with Arsenal.

• Luis Díaz scored three goals and set up another in Bayern's rout of Leipzig.
• Bayern arrived after conceding the Bundesliga's fastest goal at Augsburg and going 1-0 down within 90 seconds in Stavanger.
• Vincent Kompany remained almost motionless on the bench due to illness and an ongoing hip problem.
• Michael Olise, suspended for the Arsenal clash, still made his mark with a first-half goal.
• Bayern ended the weekend top of the Bundesliga with a far superior goal difference to Dortmund.

A wounded Bayern turn Leipzig's visit into target practice

The week had started badly for Bayern. In Augsburg they conceded the fastest goal in the Bundesliga and wasted a huge number of chances; three days later in Stavanger they went behind before 90 seconds had passed. To make matters worse, after fighting back they conceded a late equaliser, and Michael Olise was sent off following a clash with the opposing captain.

On Saturday, in front of their own fans, all of that was taken out on Leipzig's goal. German media described the contest as a training match at the Allianz Arena, and with good reason: without Maarten Vandevoordt's saves, Leipzig's heaviest ever defeat, that 7-0 loss to Manchester City three and a half years ago, would have been comfortably eclipsed.

Luis Díaz delivers his best night in a Bayern shirt

The Colombian opened the scoring in the 12th minute after a Joshua Kimmich pass sent him flying through the heart of the Leipzig defence. He then set up the second for Aleksandar Pavlovic with a delicious pass, and in the second half he took centre stage: cutting inside after receiving from Harry Kane to curl a shot into the far corner, before completing his hat-trick with a long run around to finish from a central area.

These were his first Bundesliga goals since August, and he celebrated them like a man starving. Joshua Kimmich highlighted his unique value: Díaz is the player most likely to make runs behind the defence, more so than Kane, Olise or any of the midfielders. Last season he delivered 22 goals and 17 assists across the Bundesliga and Champions League, and Munich hope this display marks a fresh starting point.

Kane and Olise shine as the European test looms

The rout began in the opening seconds, with Kane forcing an immediate save from Vandevoordt. The Englishman did not score, but he was the architect of several moves: he started the play for the second goal with a long ball from inside his own half and set up Olise to finish imperiously before the break.

Bayern's collective display comes with Olise suspended for the visit of Arsenal, making Díaz the main attacking weapon on Wednesday. Sporting director Max Eberl admitted that the memories of last season's 3-1 defeat at the Emirates, 11 months ago, remain very much alive at the club, and that they want to turn those memories into energy.

Bayern reclaim top spot before facing Arsenal

The weekend left Bayern at the summit of the table. Dortmund's goalless draw in Berlin against Union and Freiburg's first defeat of the season, a 2-1 loss at Leverkusen, allowed Kompany's side to climb into first place with a goal difference already far superior to Dortmund's.

In Leverkusen, Freiburg took an early lead through Derry Scherhant, but Ibrahim Maza struck back quickly and then set up Patrick Schick with a sublime assist. Schick has now scored in each of the opening six games of the season and shares the scoring lead with Niclas Füllkrug, who scored twice as Werder Bremen came from 2-0 down to draw with Paderborn.

A perfect warm-up for the Champions League

The match against Leipzig, even though the visitors offered little resistance, gives Bayern a useful measure of where they stand before the European appointment. While the Champions League group stage is not a win-or-go-home situation, Munich are treating the Arsenal game as an opportunity to prove they remain serious contenders for the continental crown.

"Niclas is never too proud to go the extra mile," said Daniel Thioune of Füllkrug, whose goals are raising the standards of everyone in the Werder Bremen dressing room.