Luis Diaz’s Night of Glory Turns to Chaos as Reckless Challenge Overshadows Brilliant Double
Luis Diaz experienced a whirlwind night for Bayern Munich in their Champions League showdown against Paris Saint-Germain — a match that went from triumph to disaster in the blink of an eye.
The Colombian forward looked set to be the hero after netting two magnificent goals in the first half, sending Bayern fans into a frenzy. But just minutes later, his moment of brilliance crumbled into controversy after a reckless tackle left PSG’s Achraf Hakimi in visible agony and forced an early substitution.
Diaz, who joined Bayern Munich from Liverpool in a £70 million move during the summer, has enjoyed a stellar start in Germany — already tallying eight goals and five assists across 15 appearances in all competitions. His early strike in Paris came within just four minutes, calmly finishing after pouncing on a loose ball parried by goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier.
Before the half-hour mark, Diaz struck again, doubling Bayern’s advantage with another clinical finish that showcased his composure and confidence. But what could have been a career-defining night quickly turned sour in stoppage time.
As Hakimi burst down the right flank, Diaz launched into a reckless, two-footed challenge that caught the Moroccan full-back awkwardly, trapping his leg beneath him. The 27-year-old defender immediately fell to the ground in agony, clutching his leg as medical staff rushed onto the pitch. Visibly emotional, Hakimi had to be helped off, tears streaming down his face on what was supposed to be his birthday celebration.
Bayern players surrounded referee Maurizio Mariani, pleading for leniency, with Joshua Kimmich and Manuel Neuer both voicing their frustration. However, after consulting VAR, Mariani had no hesitation — showing Diaz a straight red card for serious foul play.
The dismissal made Diaz only the second player in Champions League history to score twice and still be sent off in the same match — the first being Antoine Griezmann for Atletico Madrid in 2021.
Despite being reduced to 10 men, Bayern managed to cling to their narrow lead. PSG’s Joao Neves pulled one back, but the German champions held firm to secure the win, maintaining their unbeaten run in Europe with previous victories over Club Brugge (4–0), Pafos (5–1), and Chelsea (3–1).
For Diaz, the night that began in glory ended in regret — a harsh reminder of how quickly football can turn from ecstasy to heartbreak.
