Bayern revel in 7‑0 triumph while Luis Diaz’s drought looms
FC Bayern celebrated a 7‑0 demolition of Union Berlin, yet striker Luis Diaz remained the only offensive player without a goal, his scoring drought persisting despite the team’s euphoria. The victory, their biggest margin this season, should have lifted every forward, but Diaz’s dry spell continued unabated.
Locker‑room celebrations
Harry Kane recounted that the coach let the players deliver short speeches in the dressing‑room after the win. Holding a glazed gingerbread heart marked with a 100, the England striker joked about chasing his next record. He listed Michael Olise’s first hat‑trick, Ismael Saibari’s inaugural Bayern goal, his own hundredth strike and Serge Gnabry’s return from injury. Kane added that Olise’s speech was the briefest of the night.
Diaz’s goal drought
How Luis Diaz felt while his teammates recounted their achievements remains unknown; he left the Allianz Arena without comment. The contrast could not be starker – a sad figure among jubilant riders. Diaz’s last Bayern goal came in the 5‑1 opening‑day win over VfB Stuttgart, and he has not added a measurable contribution since.
Since that strike, he has squandered chances against Schalke and Osnabrück in the cup and against Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League. Last week, after being subbed on versus Elversberg, teammate Josip Stanisic criticised him for failing to finish a perfect pass from Michael Olise, managing only a chipped effort. Earlier, a goal he scored was ruled out for off‑side, erasing what could have been his next tally.
In a recent interview with Sky and RTL, Diaz said, “I think the next game will bring a goal. You have to stay calm, mentally, so it does not burden you. We must work on improving; I know it is only the finishing that is missing – then it will be good.”
Rest and future prospects
Diaz’s next opportunity arrives on 10 October when Bayern face FC Augsburg, after a spell of international fixtures. Colombia manager Nestor Lorenzo agreed, in consultation with the striker, to omit him from upcoming matches, granting him a period of rest. The Colombian forward logged 51 Bayern appearances this season, contributing 26 goals and 23 assists, and added seven goals and three assists in 16 national‑team games.
In the Bundesliga he has already missed six clear‑cut chances, and his expected‑goals total stands at 3.1 after four league matches. By contrast, Harry Kane’s xG of 2.17 has yielded three goals, while Michael Olise’s 2.65 xG has produced four. Across all competitions Olise has eight goals and three assists, and Ismael Saibari, who replaced Diaz in the 63rd minute, has one goal and three assists in 178 minutes of play.
Sporting director Max Eberl joked that some would be glad to have a dip like Diaz’s, noting that South American international breaks are not mandatory and that a short holiday could benefit the exhausted player. He assured that Diaz will return with a tailored programme and that there is no cause for concern about his fitness. The episode underlines the stark contrast between Bayern’s collective exuberance and the striker’s personal slump.