Bayern Munich Dominates Bodo/Glimt in Champions League Opener

The lights dimmed, the anthem rolled around the Allianz Arena, and all eyes went to one man. Not Harry Kane. Not Joshua Kimmich. Jamal Musiala.

Back in Bayern Munich’s starting XI for the first time this season, the 23-year-old walked out to a roar that carried more relief than routine Champions League excitement. Just weeks ago he had been collapsing in pre-season friendlies against RB Leipzig and Heidenheim, neurological dysfunctions throwing his future into doubt. On Tuesday night, he was back where he belongs — in the thick of it.

Vincent Kompany had eased him in with a brief cameo against Schalke at the weekend. This, though, was a statement. A start in the Champions League opener. And Kompany made it clear, as relayed by Fabrizio Romano, that this was earned, not sentimental: Musiala “deserved to start, it’s not gifted.”

For 45 minutes, Bayern had to fight for every inch.

Bodo/Glimt stand firm

FK Bodo/Glimt did not come to Munich to play the part of willing victims. Their reputation as giant-killers is no marketing spin; last season’s scalps included Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan. They set up accordingly — deep, compact, and utterly unapologetic.

Bayern probed, recycled, and probed again. Kimmich clipped the post in the 35th minute with a crisp effort from the edge of the area. Just before the break he forced Nikita Haikin into a sharp save. The crowd grumbled, the tempo stuttered, and Bodo/Glimt’s belief grew with every clearance.

Half-time arrived with the scoreline blank and the Allianz Arena restless. Bayern had the ball. Bodo/Glimt had the plan.

That plan lasted two minutes after the restart.

Musiala’s moment

In the 47th minute, the game finally cracked open. Kane picked up the ball in space and let fly from distance. His strike took a deflection off Patrick Berg and spun awkwardly into the area. For a split second, it hung there, begging for someone to react.

Musiala did.

He spun, set himself in one fluid motion and drilled a fierce shot into the far corner. No hesitation, no sign of rust. Just a clean, ruthless finish and a release of weeks of worry. The Allianz erupted. Teammates swarmed him. The comeback had its headline.

Once Bayern had their lead, the pattern flipped. The tension drained from their play. The passes sharpened. The Norwegian champions suddenly looked what they were on paper: overmatched.

The pressure told again on 61 minutes.

Kane climbs, Olise delivers

Michael Olise, already a central figure in Kompany’s tactical blueprint, stood over a free-kick and shaped it perfectly into the heart of the penalty area. The delivery begged for a finisher; Kane obliged.

The England captain timed his run to perfection and powered a header past Haikin for 2-0. Another landmark for a striker who has turned milestones into a habit. It was his 55th goal in the Champions League and his 79th in European competition overall, numbers that place him firmly among the most prolific forwards the tournament has seen.

From there, Bayern started to enjoy themselves.

Alphonso Davies made it three in the 77th minute, doing what Alphonso Davies does. A burst of pace, a decisive run, and a composed finish to cap it off. Bodo/Glimt’s resistance was long gone by then; the only question left was how brutal the scoreline would become.

Olise answered that.

Olise takes over, Bayern’s streak rolls on

With the game stretched, the former Crystal Palace winger stepped into the spotlight. In the 83rd minute he got his reward, finishing clinically to make it 4-0. Deep into stoppage time he struck again, completing a late brace and sealing a 5-0 demolition that felt unthinkable at half-time.

The final scoreline flattered no one. Bayern simply overwhelmed their visitors in the closing stages, turning a tricky night into a statement win.

Behind the goals sits a streak that underlines the club’s iron grip on European openers. Bayern have now won their first match of a European campaign for 23 consecutive seasons. You have to go back to 2002/03 for their last defeat on matchday one — a 3-2 loss to Deportivo La Coruna. Since then: 23 openers, 23 wins. Relentless consistency at the top level.

Now Kompany’s side turn their gaze north. A trip to Norway awaits on October 13, where Viking Stavanger will try to do what almost no one manages on matchday one: stop Bayern’s rhythm before it becomes a march.