Luis Díaz's first Bayern Munich hat-trick the latest highlight from a stand-out season

Bayern Munich restored their six-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga with a dominant 5-1 victory over Hoffenheim on Matchday 21, with winger Luis Díaz the star of the show. The Colombian’s hat-trick was just the latest eye-catching display from a magnificent first season in Germany…

Bayern were tested by Hoffenheim in the first period, with Fisnik Asllani hitting the post and Andrej Kramarić drawing a fantastic save from Manuel Neuer before finding the back of the net to equalise 35 minutes in. By that point, though, the visitors were already down to 10 men after Kevin Akpoguma brought Luis Díaz down as the last man in the penalty area, just one example of Hoffenheim’s inability to deal with the 29-year-old.

The ball for that spot-kick may have fallen fortuitously, yet it was Díaz's quick feet and thinking that left Akpoguma with little choice but to haul his opponent down. 

Watch: Bayern Munich 5-1 Hoffenheim - highlights

Bayern’s number 14 repeated the trick on the brink of half-time, too, bamboozling Vladimir Coufal as the Czech clung on to Díaz’s leg for dear life in a desperate attempt to stop him from advancing towards goal. Another Díaz drive forward therefore led to the game’s second spot-kick, which Harry Kane again duly converted to put Bayern in front once more.

There was still time left in the first half for Díaz to get his own name on the scoresheet, effectively putting the game beyond Christian Ilzer’s 10 men. This time, Kane was the provider, dribbling past a couple of defenders before laying off to Díaz. As soon as the latter picked up the ball and cut inside, the composed finish into the bottom corner that followed was inevitable.

Díaz was in irresistible form against Hoffenheim. - IMAGO/Davide Elias

About the players

14

Luis

Díaz

FC Bayern München

When Bayern have smelt blood in 2025/26, they have invariably gone for the kill, and Díaz was the leader of the pride on this occasion. His second of the night shortly after the hour mark was one any centre-forward worth his salt would be proud of as he drifted into the six-yard box to tap home Michael Olise’s low cross.

Then, shortly before the full-time whistle, Díaz buried into the bottom corner from outside the area to cap off a wonderful evening on both an individual and team level. It was the first hat-trick of his Bayern career, but it was far from his maiden influential showing for the record champions since joining from Liverpool last summer.

This trio of strikes takes him to 13 Bundesliga goals for the campaign, second only to Kane for both the club and across the division. That haul includes all types of goals, too, whether it be the poacher’s finish this weekend or his effort against Union Berlin, which was nominated for the 2025 Bundesliga Goal of the Year.

Such finishing – which does not include his two strikes against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League or his effort against VfB Stuttgart as Bayern won the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup – only tells half the story. Olise is the only Bundesliga player with more than his nine assists, with the two penalties Díaz won against Hoffenheim not counting towards that total.

France international Olise is also the only player to record more sprints and intensive runs than Díaz for Bayern, while he also sits third in the team rankings for distance covered. Not only is his end product destructive, but he is not shirking his work-rate responsibilities to make an impact.

Unsurprisingly, Bayern’s officials were queuing up to lavish their match-winner with praise on Sunday. Head coach Vincent Kompany, in particular, was delighted with his player’s creative qualities, saying, “As a defender, you think you have the ball, and then suddenly he's taken an extra step or changed direction. Either he gets a shot off in the end, or these fouls happen.

Watch: Luis Díaz lights up Supercup

“With many top players, you just know what they're going to do, and it's all clever. Lucho is obviously clever too, but he also loves this chaos, and that's what makes him so dangerous."

Meanwhile, board member for sport Max Eberl said, “Díaz made the difference today. He was the key player, even though we won as a group. Luis always plays with heart and commitment. He can also leave several players in his wake. We are extremely happy to have him with us.”

This campaign is already a stand-out one for Díaz’s. He is only four goals adrift of his career-best 22 across all competitions in a single term, while his current tally of Bundesliga assists is the most he has registered in a single league season, and we still have 13 matchdays remaining.

The only thing required to make his already impressive campaign an unforgettable one is silverware, and as it stands, Bayern remain well-placed in three competitions. They have a buffer over Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, while their next competitive outing is a DFB Cup quarter-final against RB Leipzig on Wednesday. In the Champions League, Bayern are already through to the last 16, where they await the winner of a play-off round tie.

If the Bavarians are to prevail in any of those tournaments, Díaz will have to be at his best. If he continues in this vein of form, though, it feels not so much a question of if Bayern win something this term, but rather how many trophies they will show off at Marienplatz come the summer?

About the clubs

Bayern Munich

Allianz Arena