Why is Luis Diaz Not Playing Today in Bayern Munich vs Mainz?

The roar of the crowd is building at one of the most expensive stadiums, Allianz Arena, and the floodlights are blazing as Bayern Munich hosts Mainz on Sunday for the 14th round of the Bundesliga. To the searching question of the fans, "Is Luis Diaz playing today?" in the highly anticipated Bundesliga fixture, the clear answer is no.

The Colombian international is one of Bayern Munich's most dynamic wingers, and his absence is always a significant talking point. He is not available for this weekend's match because he is serving a one-game domestic suspension. This enforced rest for the key player comes in because of the accumulation of yellow cards that triggered an automatic ban under Bundesliga rules following Bayern's last league match against Stuttgart. So, the star winger is confirmed not to be in the squad, hence directly answering the question: Is Luis Diaz playing today in Bayern Munich vs Mainz?

Luis Diaz's Absence

The particular reason for the non-attendance of Luis Diaz in Bayern Munich's match against Mainz is related to the disciplinary regulations of the league. Luis Diaz gained his fifth yellow card of the season in the previous match of the Bundesliga, which automatically leads to a one-match suspension. Of course, suspension is never welcome, especially for someone with such high class and current performance, but it does provide a small respite among a very congested schedule of both domestic and international matches. It remains a fact that coach Vincent Kompany would be left with no other option but to make some adjustments in his initial team, a direct aftermath of the yellow card disqualification that does not enable him to say 'Yes' to the question 'Is Luis Diaz playing today?'

Bayern Munich vs Mainz 05 Without the Colombian Star

The context of the match itself shifts slightly, knowing the answer to “Is Luis Díaz playing today in Bayern Munich vs Mainz” is negative. League leaders Bayern Munich, even without the explosive pace of the Colombian, are overwhelming favorites. They have arguably the deepest squad in the Bundesliga, including options like Serge Gnabry, who is expected to fill in on the wing. Players who can easily provide an attacking threat right in the company, with a striker like Harry Kane.

The opposition, Mainz, currently sit at the foot of the table and are facing an uphill task in this fixture. It will be the first Bundesliga game for their new coach, Urs Fischer, who is expected to introduce a resolute defensive system in order to frustrate the dominant Bayern attack.