Diaz hat-trick restores Bayern’s Bundesliga lead

Diaz hat-trick restores Bayern's Bundesliga lead

Luis Díaz fired a stunning hat-trick as Bayern Munich thrashed 10-man Hoffenheim 5–1 on Sunday to restore their six-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga.

With Borussia Dortmund’s narrow win at Wolfsburg on Saturday briefly cutting the gap to three points, Díaz was unplayable at times, spearheading an emphatic response from the reigning champions at the Allianz Arena.

Harry Kane converted two first-half penalties to take his Bundesliga tally to 24 goals for the season and 38 in all competitions.

“There was a lot of noise around the team after two winless games. It was important to stay calm,” Kane told DAZN.

“We’re heading towards the end of the season, a stage where every three points matters. The real season starts now.”

Hoffenheim, third in the table and the league’s form side coming into the match with 11 wins from their previous 14 games, saw their challenge unravel early.

Kevin Akpoguma was controversially sent off for a foul on Díaz in the penalty area, allowing Kane to open the scoring from the spot.

The visitors briefly threatened a comeback when Manuel Neuer gifted possession to Fisnik Asllani, who squared for Andrej Kramarić to equalise. However, Bayern soon reasserted control.

Díaz won a second penalty just before half-time, which Kane again converted, before the England captain turned provider in stoppage time, threading a counter-attacking pass for Díaz to finish clinically.

The Colombian added his second after the break, tapping in Michael Olise’s pass, before completing his hat-trick with a long-range strike in the final minute.

It was Díaz’s first hat-trick in a Bayern shirt and took him to 13 league goals in his debut Bundesliga campaign, alongside nine assists.

Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.

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