A performance to release new energy for Bayern

“Super Bayern! Super Bayern!” is one of those chants that ring out from the Südkurve at the end of the match when something extraordinary has happened. And Saturday evening was another one of those matches.

Right at the heart of it all was Luis Díaz. He savoured the moment, high-fived his teammates and accepted their words of praise. With three goals and an assist, the Colombian had emerged as the standout performer in a display where almost everything clicked at the Allianz Arena.

The match had ended in a 6-1 victory over RB Leipzig, with further Bayern goals from Aleksandar Pavlović, Michael Olise and Harry Kane. It was an impressive result in itself. But even more impressive was the manner in which it was achieved.

Following the 2-2 draw at Augsburg and the 3-3 draw at Viking in the Champions League, our team were determined to turn their frustration into confidence. Against Leipzig, attacking power, killer instinct and defensive solidity came together once again. It was this combination – a demonstration of strength and moving to the top of the table – that should give Bayern plenty of momentum for the challenges ahead.

“That was really impressive. We were focused and all over them from the start. We’d caused ourselves issues at times in the last two games. We were determined to avoid that today. The size of the score is also deserved. It was a very good performance,” said board member for sport Max Eberl.

Quite right. Bayern pressed immediately whenever they lost possession and switched play with impressive speed whenever they won the ball back. Leipzig couldn’t find a way out of the pressure.

It wasn’t just about intensity. Above all, the teamwork was what made it. Joshua Kimmich and Pavlović complemented each other superbly in the centre, giving the game structure and dictating the tempo. As soon as spaces opened up, Bayern’s play became vertical. Winning the ball led to dangerous attacks within a matter of seconds. The movement was on point, as were the decisions. For Leipzig, coached by former Bayern player Martín Demichelis, it was all simply too fast.

Sense of understanding again

The build-up to the second goal illustrated exactly how this worked. Kane dropped deep to pick up the ball on the edge of his own penalty area and found Díaz, who laid it off for Pavlović to finish. Just three players Bayern’s own penalty area to the opposition goal. It was a moment that epitomised the clinical way in which Bayern capitalised on their chances.

This on-field understanding was also borne out by the statistics. The visitors’ xG figure stood at just 0.84, and not a single clear-cut chance was recorded for Leipzig. This was a marked contrast to the two previous matches and was at least as valuable as the six goals Bayern scored themselves.

On the other hand, Bayern displayed such attacking prowess that, even with such a clear-cut result, they produced some remarkable statistics: 29 shots, 17 of which were on target, eight clear-cut chances and 48 touches in the opposition’s penalty area. Added to this were 61.7 percent possession and a pass completion rate of 90.2 percent. Particularly striking was that Bayern made 225 passes in the final third, compared with just 62 by Leipzig.

And then there was the matter of converting chances. Even in Augsburg, Bayern had taken 29 shots, achieving an xG figure of 5.02, and yet had to make do with just two goals. Against Leipzig, with exactly the same number of shots, they scored six goals, even though the xG figure was actually lower at 3.76. The difference between the two matches could hardly have been more striking.

“We made the most of our chances straight away this time. And once we get going, it’s very difficult against us,” said Nathaniel Brown, summing up the night.

New Bundesliga record

A new Bundesliga record also illustrates just how potent Munich’s attack has become. Eighteen goals in the first three home matches of a season is a feat that no other team had ever achieved before. Ironically, the previous record was held by Bayern themselves, with 17 goals in the 2020/21 season.

“The confidence we showed today – it was really fun. That ease of scoring was back again. We’re so happy for Lucho that he got three goals today. And also for Harry, who worked hard throughout and scored himself,” summarised Jonas Urbig, who deputised again in goal for Manuel Neuer.

Speaking of Lucho, Díaz was the star of the show in this Bayern masterclass. Three goals and one assist mean he was directly involved in four goals in a Bundesliga match for the first time. But another statistic also revealed a great deal about his exceptional performance. His total of 23 sprints was more than any other player on the pitch. The Colombian worked tirelessly. He embodied much of what set the whole of Bayern apart this evening: pace, precision and a hunger for goals that never waned, even with a comfortable lead.

Amidst all the excitement surrounding Díaz, Kane was also able to celebrate another remarkable milestone. In his 100th Bundesliga match, the Englishman scored his 102nd goal. That is a tally no other player had previously achieved in their first 100 appearances. In addition, Kane set up two goals and, with nine goal contributions to his name this season, leads the Bundesliga in that regard. Once again, the striker was not only a finisher but also a playmaker and a key link in the team’s play.

Of course, a 6-1 win doesn’t mean that all our difficulties have now disappeared. A Bundesliga season is a long one, and every opponent presents different challenges. But this resounding victory comes at a particularly valuable time. “We need this stability now and in the coming weeks,” added Eberl.

The next big challenge in the Champions League comes as early as Wednesday against Arsenal, followed by a Bundesliga away fixture against high-flying Freiburg. There’s obviously still a lot to come for this team.

Get more reaction to the Leipzig game here: