Bayern Munich Advances in German Cup Despite Musiala's Absence
OSNABRÜCK, Germany — Bayern Munich rolled into the second round of the German Cup with a 4-1 win at Osnabrück on Wednesday night, but the bigger storyline hovered over a player who never set foot on the pitch.
Kompany refuses to rush Musiala
Jamal Musiala stayed out of the squad again as he continues to deal with a neurological issue that has already cut short his preseason twice. Vincent Kompany made it clear: Bayern will wait for him.
The 21-year-old Germany international revealed he is suffering from treatable absence seizures after collapsing on the field twice in four days in August — first against RB Leipzig in a preseason game, then again in a friendly on Aug. 18. He has yet to feature under Kompany since.
After the win in Osnabrück, Kompany admitted Musiala could soon be back in the frame and “might” even be an option for Saturday’s Bundesliga trip to promoted Schalke. But he quickly drew a line.
“I don’t want to put any more pressure on the guy,” Kompany said. The message was simple: Bayern can wait; Musiala’s health comes first.
Kane at the double as Bayern cruise
On the pitch, Bayern’s title defence in the cup began with a ruthless, if occasionally laboured, display. Harry Kane struck twice, Michael Olise and Tom Bischof added one each, and the holders brushed aside a spirited second-tier opponent in a hostile, compact stadium.
Kompany resisted the temptation to rotate heavily. There was no experimental XI, no mass changes. He went strong. Kane led the line, flanked by Luis Díaz and Olise, while new signing Ismael Saibari made his first start since joining from PSV Eindhoven.
Osnabrück, though, refused to play the role of polite hosts.
Robin Meissner stunned Bayern with a thunderbolt from distance, unleashing a drive from around 30 meters that flew into the top right corner. It was the sort of strike that stops everyone for a second — teammates, opponents, even the goalkeeper. Kane and Bayern keeper Jonas Urbig both congratulated Meissner for the goal.
The shock didn’t last long. Bayern absorbed the punch and hit back.
Kane levelled soon after, restoring order and quieting the noise from the stands. The equaliser settled Bayern, and once they found their rhythm, the gaps started to appear. Tom Bischof pounced in the 24th minute to make it 2-1, tilting the tie firmly in the champions’ favour.
“We kept finding the spaces and the chances eventually became bigger as well,” Kompany said. “We were battling their compactness in the first half; in the second they tried to press us, which also gave us opportunities.”
Osnabrück stayed stubborn, clinging to the contest and refusing to let the scoreline run away from them. Bayern pushed, prodded and recycled the ball, but the third goal took its time.
The pressure finally told in the 73rd minute. Olise struck to kill off any lingering tension, stretching the lead to 3-1 and draining the last of Osnabrück’s belief. Kane then finished the job from the penalty spot, his second of the night wrapping up a professional away win.
“At the end of the day, it’s a 4-1 win away in the cup,” Kompany said. “You can’t get much better than that against a compact, defensively strong team, who have built their success on just that. To win a match like this 4-1 away from home is not easy.”
Kane impressed by hostile night
Kane, who continues to look utterly at home in Bayern colours, praised both the performance and the setting.
“I think it was a good performance. Games like this are never easy,” he said. “We played away from home against a good side and the atmosphere the fans created was really impressive. In games like this you have to be disciplined and mentally switched on — especially when the opponents start with such an outrageous goal.”
Discipline, then quality. Bayern showed both.
They have started the season with a statement run: a 2-1 win over Dortmund in the Super Cup, a 5-1 dismantling of Stuttgart in the Bundesliga, and now a 4-1 cup victory away from home. Kompany’s Bayern are already scoring freely, already imposing their structure.
The only missing piece is Musiala. If he returns soon, and on his own terms, this early-season surge could become something far more ominous for the rest of Germany.
