Bayern Munich Faces Dortmund Without Jamal Musiala
Bayern Munich’s season-opening showpiece in Dortmund will go ahead without one of its brightest stars. Jamal Musiala will miss the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup on Saturday after head coach Vincent Kompany confirmed the playmaker has been left out of the squad for the trip to Signal Iduna Park.
This is no routine rotation call. It is about safeguarding the 23-year-old’s health.
The Supercup, rebranded this year in honour of Franz Beckenbauer, traditionally pits the previous season’s top domestic sides against each other and acts as the first major marker of the German campaign. Bayern are chasing another trophy. Musiala, though, is focused on something far more fundamental.
Kompany revealed that the club has been aware of Musiala’s health situation for some time, even before recent worrying episodes played out in public and sparked concern across the game. Adjustments to the midfielder’s medical treatment, he said, have triggered visible side-effects during matches.
“He is not in the squad. It is about him making the adaptation in the treatment,” Kompany told reporters, underlining that Bayern will not rush their star back just to boost their chances against Borussia Dortmund.
Sporting director Max Eberl stressed that the club has closed ranks around Musiala, describing Bayern’s response as that of a family determined to provide complete support while he adapts to the new regime. Inside Säbener Straße, the focus is clear: stabilise the treatment, then think about football.
The concern is not confined to Munich. Across the divide, Borussia Dortmund managing director Lars Ricken spoke with clear empathy, acknowledging how shocking Musiala’s recent episodes have looked from the outside. The rivalry remains fierce, but on this issue the football community has moved as one.
There was at least a lift for Bayern on the personnel front. Kompany confirmed that summer signing Ismael Saibari is expected to feature in Dortmund. The coach highlighted the newcomer’s power and speed, and hinted that once Saibari is fully integrated, he will become a key piece in Bayern’s attacking puzzle.
For now, Musiala’s work continues away from the limelight. Bayern have mapped out individual training sessions for the week, designed to ease him through this phase of treatment and back towards full fitness. Kompany made no attempt to hide his anticipation at the thought of Musiala returning to his old, electrifying self.
“I am looking forward to the counter-attack from Musiala, when he answers all questions on the pitch again,” the coach said, framing the midfielder’s eventual comeback as a response delivered with the ball at his feet rather than words at a press conference.
On Saturday, Bayern will chase silverware in Dortmund without their chief creator. The real victory, though, will be seeing Musiala sprinting into space again, treatment settled, ready to decide matches instead of medical reports.
