Bayern Munich Faces Dortmund Without Jamal Musiala
Bayern Munich will walk into Signal Iduna Park on Saturday without one of their brightest lights. Jamal Musiala will miss the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, with head coach Vincent Kompany confirming the playmaker is not in the squad for the season’s curtain-raiser.
The match, a meeting of last season’s leading domestic sides, usually crackles with early-season energy and a hint of statement-making. Bayern still want the trophy. But this time, Musiala’s wellbeing sits above any chase for silverware.
The 23-year-old’s recent health episodes have unsettled fans and observers across Germany. Inside the club, though, there was no sense of shock. Officials have known about the situation for some time and have been managing it internally.
Kompany revealed that changes to Musiala’s medical treatment have triggered visible side-effects during games. That was the line they were no longer willing to cross.
“He is not in the squad. It is about him making the adaptation in the treatment,” Kompany told reporters, drawing a firm boundary between the player’s health and the demands of elite competition.
Sporting director Max Eberl underlined the club’s stance, describing how Bayern have closed ranks around Musiala, treating the situation as a family matter and offering full support as he adjusts to the new regime.
The concern has not stopped at Säbener Straße. Across the divide, Borussia Dortmund managing director Lars Ricken voiced sympathy for the midfielder, acknowledging how shocking those recent episodes looked from the outside. Rivalry can wait when a player’s health is in question.
On the football side, Kompany did have one encouraging update. Summer signing Ismael Saibari is expected to feature against Dortmund. The coach highlighted Saibari’s power and speed, backing the newcomer to grow into an important role once he fully settles into Bayern’s system. For a squad suddenly without its creative heartbeat, his presence matters.
This week, Musiala’s work comes away from the spotlight. Bayern have scheduled individual training sessions tailored around his recovery and the adaptation to his treatment. Every step is calculated, every session geared towards one goal: getting him back safely, and for good.
Kompany made it clear he sees this as a pause, not a full stop. “I am looking forward to the counter-attack from Musiala, when he answers all questions on the pitch again,” he said, framing the midfielder’s eventual return as a response, not just a comeback.
For now, Bayern travel to Dortmund with a trophy on the line and a star watching from afar. The Supercup will offer an early glimpse of Kompany’s Bayern. The real question lingers beyond Saturday: when Musiala finally returns, how much stronger will they be?
