Fireworks in Frankfurt: How Luis Díaz capped his strong start to the season

After this goal, even Vincent Kompany could no longer remain seated. The joy at the perfect finish to the away win in Frankfurt was simply overwhelming. The Bayern head coach stormed towards the corner flag like a man possessed after Luis Díaz's goal made it 3-0, where a thick cluster of players in white jerseys immediately formed. The entire team, including the substitutes, celebrated together with the 28-year-old summer signing, whose goal sealed the tenth victory in the tenth competitive game. The euphoria reflected the unbroken enthusiasm of the Munich team, who did not let up for a second, even in the final stages of the match at the Waldstadion.

In the 84th minute, Bayern launched one last, lightning-fast counterattack. Raphaël Guerreiro set up Díaz, who gave his opponent Robin Koch a lesson. With a quick feint, the Colombian left his marker standing, drove purposefully towards the byline and fired the ball straight in off the near left post. Kauã Santos, the Eintracht keeper, stands at an impressive 1.96 metres tall – but even his height was not enough to keep out this powerful shot from close range. The net bulged and the Bayern celebrations knew no bounds.

The lightning goal that caught Frankfurt cold

Luis Díaz thus provided the crowning finale to a match that he himself had opened in spectacular fashion. Just 15 seconds after kick-off, the winger put the ball in the Frankfurt net for the first time – the fastest goal in this Bundesliga season – and put his team on the road to victory. Díaz also had a hand in the second goal: his pass for Harry Kane's well-placed finish was his fourth assist in six league games – joint top with Union Berlin's Andrej Ilic. Kompany was full of praise for his new signing. “Today, the praise also goes to Lucho Díaz,” said the Belgian after the final whistle. “He’s been involved right from the start since his move, even when he’s not scored.”

This energy, Kompany explained, radiates throughout the entire team. The coach thus touched on the crucial point: Díaz has been invigorating Bayern’s attacking play with momentum and vigour since the start of the season. He has fitted perfectly into the team structure like a piece of a jigsaw puzzle. Ten goal involvements in ten competitive appearances are not the result of a brief surge in form, but rather the result of consistent determination and team-oriented play. Díaz impressively underlined this with his first brace in a Bayern shirt. His brilliant performance in Frankfurt was the spark that finally dispelled all doubts – ‘Lucho’ has firmly established himself in the team, at least after his fireworks in Frankfurt.

Consistency meets class: Díaz‘s influence

A settling-in period? Not at all. The Colombian international found his place in Munich from day one. Thanks to an optimal pre-season, he arrived at the German record champions in top shape. In the opening match against RB Leipzig, he made an immediate impact with a goal and two assists, giving fans a taste of what they could expect from the former Liverpool star. He also quickly impressed for the Reds after his transfer in the winter of 2022, playing his way straight into the starting line-up. But in terms of raw numbers, he is now significantly outperforming his early days there. While he scored one goal and provided one assist in his first ten competitive games for Liverpool, he already has an impressive ten goal involvements to his name in Munich.

But Díaz’s worth to Bayern goes far beyond stats. He’s just as valuable without the ball, running tirelessly, tracking back and helping the defence with his high work rate. His strength in transition was also displayed in the third goal on Saturday: a few metres outside his own penalty box, the left-winger set off at full speed, covering the length of the pitch and being rewarded with his second goal. He’s producing these qualities game after game – much to the delight of his coach. “You need exactly that type of player, who delivers week in, week out,” said Kompany after the encounter in Frankfurt. 

A symbol of Bayern’s philosophy

Captain Manuel Neuer also had words of praise: “The third goal was a prime example of how we can transition quickly from defence to attack and finish clinically.” An act of strength at the end of the game – and a symbol of the mentality with which Díaz is stamping his mark on Bayern’s play.

Which brings us back to the theme of energy. This is fuelled not least by such individual successes, as Kane explained. “Wins give you energy, and we’ve got to hold on to that,” said the goal-getter on Saturday, looking ahead to the weeks ahead. “The feeling in the squad is clear: we want to keep pushing, and you could see that again today."

In a game that Díaz influenced more than anyone. The Colombian confirmed what’s been apparent for weeks: he’s arrived. And how.

The reaction to the clash in Frankfurt: