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Bayern Munich go top of Bundesliga after thrashing of RB Leipzig

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Bayern's Harry Kane, centre right, celebrates with teammates after scoring their side's fifth goal of the game during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Leipzig, in Munich, Germany, Saturday Oct. 17, 2026. (Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa via AP) (Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/DPA via A)

Bayern Munich warmed up for their Champions League showdown against Arsenal with a thumping 6-1 home victory over RB Leipzig to reclaim top spot in the Bundesliga.

Vincent Kompany's side, who host the Gunners at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, opened the scoring after just 12 minutes through hat-trick hero Luis Díaz.

Aleksandar Pavlovic doubled the hosts' advantage 14 minutes later before Michael Olise, suspended for the upcoming visit of Mikel Arteta's side, added a third in the 34th minute.

Díaz netted his second shortly after the interval with Harry Kane taking his tally for club and country for the season to 11 in the 53rd minute. Díaz then completed his treble with 21 minutes remaining, with Andrija Maksimovic stealing a consolation in stoppage time.

Bayern's comprehensive victory allowed them to take advantage of Borussia Dortmund's goalless draw at Union Berlin earlier on Saturday to move back to the Bundesliga summit.

However, third-placed Freiburg will usurp Kompany's side at the top of the table if they triumph at Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday.

Bayern headed into Saturday's contest off the back of successive score draws against Augsburg and Danish side Viking. But they returned to their all-conquering best to send out a warning to Premier League champions Arsenal ahead of their visit on Wednesday.

Díaz got the hosts off and running early on when he latched on to Joshua Kimmich's exquisite through-ball and delivered an emphatic finish to leave Maarten Vandevoordt with no chance in the Leipzig goal.

Kompany's side were celebrating their second shortly after with Díaz this time turning provider. The former Liverpool forward drove at the visiting defence before playing in Pavlovic, who crashed home an unstoppable left-footed finish.

Leipzig put six past Frankfurt in their last league outing and then triumphed against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League but they were unable to compete with the rampant champions, who extended their lead to three before the interval.

Olise, sent off in Bayern's draw with Viking, played a neat one-two with Kane before unleashing from distance to land his ninth of the campaign and put his side in complete control at half-time.

There would be no let-off for Bayern after the interval with Díaz picking up Kane's pass and driving home with the second half just 95 seconds old.

And, after creating Bayern's previous two goals, Kane, predictably got his name on the scoresheet in the 53rd minute. The England captain, who is closing in on a new deal with Bayern, could not miss from a handful of yards as he converted Nathaniel Brown's pullback.

It would get even better for Bayern when Diaz netted his third with a sumptuous 20-yard curling effort before Maksimovic netted for Leipzig in the second minute of added time.