Bayern go back top of the Bundesliga before hosting Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Bayern Munich reclaimed top spot in the Bundesliga on Saturday evening with a comprehensive win over RB Leipzig at the Allianz Arena. Borussia Dortmund had drawn 0-0 at Union Berlin earlier that day, and Bayern took advantage.
Bayern had drawn their two previous games, against Augsburg and Norwegian side Viking. With Manuel Neuer again unavailable, Jonas Urbig started in goal for Vincent Kompany's side.
Luis Díaz broke the deadlock after 12 minutes, running onto a pass from Joshua Kimmich and finishing past Maarten Vandevoordt. Aleksandar Pavlovic doubled the lead with a left-footed finish. Then France midfielder Michael Olise added a third in the 34th minute, striking from distance after a one-two with England captain Harry Kane.
Díaz scored again shortly after the restart, and Kane converted a pullback from a handful of yards in the 53rd minute. Díaz completed his hat-trick in the 69th minute. Leipzig's consolation came late on, when Andrija Maksimovic reduced the deficit in the second minute of added time.
Joshua Kimmich, whose pass set up the opener, singled out Díaz's value to the team:
"He delivered incredible numbers for us last season."
Díaz had faced criticism after four league games without a goal, and this hat-trick was his first Bundesliga goals since August. Kane, in his 100th Bundesliga match, scored and laid on two assists. The England captain is closing in on a new deal with Bayern.
Freiburg had been top going into the weekend, but they lost 2-1 at Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday, their first defeat of the season. Bayern finished the weekend top on goal difference: both they and Dortmund have 14 points, but Bayern's goal difference is 17 to Dortmund's 7.
Olise will miss the Champions League game through suspension. Sporting director Max Eberl stood in for Kompany at the post-match press conference and said the coach had been ill, and that a hip problem had made his move from the dressing room to the touchline slow and uncomfortable.
Premier League champions Arsenal beat Bayern 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium 11 months ago, Bayern's first defeat of last season. Eberl said, "We have memories of that game", and that the club wants to "translate those memories into energy this Wednesday."
Bayern host Arsenal at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, 21 October.
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