Dangerous but wasteful: Diaz squanders Bayern’s chances | OneFootball

Luis Díaz has immediately established himself as a key player at FC Bayern. The €70 million man brings speed, creativity, and goal threat – but there’s still one major issue: his finishing.

Seven goals in 13 competitive matches, along with several outstanding performances in the Bundesliga and Champions League – Luis Díaz has arrived at FC Bayern. The Colombian winger is one of the most eye-catching players in Kompany’s squad, and with his dynamism and tireless attacking drive, he’s almost impossible to leave out of the starting eleven. Nevertheless, a recurring weakness is causing frustration: Díaz is missing too many big chances.

Wastefulness in front of goal as a recurring problem

The example from Mönchengladbach was symptomatic. Not even a minute had been played when Díaz appeared completely unmarked in front of Gladbach keeper Moritz Nicolas and shot wide to the left. “We could have made it 1-0 right at the very start,” sporting director Max Eberl later complained. Bayern had to be patient until Joshua Kimmich broke the deadlock in the second half.

But that scene was not an isolated incident. Díaz has already squandered several high-quality chances this season – including in matches against Wehen Wiesbaden, Augsburg, Dortmund, and Brugge. According to statistics, the 28-year-old failed to convert six big chances in his first eight Bundesliga games – a negative record he shares with Union striker Andrej Ilic.

In the Champions League and DFB-Pokal, Díaz missed three more so-called “big chances” in each competition – also the highest in the team. Despite his attacking drive, the Colombian is thus becoming Bayern’s “chance killer.”

Top stats – but not yet world-class

Despite his finishing weaknesses, Díaz is among the most dangerous attacking players in the Bundesliga. Together with Michael Olise, he leads the league with 30 shots on goal, ahead of Harry Kane (29). His “expected goals” value (xG) is 5.18 – a solid figure that reflects his high activity in the penalty area.

But the comparison with Kane shows what’s still missing: the English superstar has already scored twelve goals from an xG of 6.47 – almost twice as many as Díaz. This highlights the difference between a top player and a world-class striker.

That said, Díaz’s development is fundamentally positive. Under Vincent Kompany, he is a fixed part of a system that relies heavily on variable wing attacks. The Belgian coach is relaxed about the missed chances: “He creates a lot of chances because he’s always active. How can you blame someone for that, when he keeps getting himself into those positions?” Kompany explained when asked. “What’s more important to me is that he scores in decisive moments, rather than scoring five goals in one game and then nothing for five months.”

Kompany’s trust in Díaz is clear. The coach sees the Colombian as a key player for balancing wing play and finishing ability. Internally, Díaz’s willingness to learn is also highlighted – he is working hard to improve his precision in front of goal.

Despite the missed chances, the attacker remains one of the most productive players in Bayern’s squad. If he manages to improve his finishing, he could become one of the most dangerous wingers in Europe.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.