Bayern Munich Faces Concerns After Musiala's Collapse in Telekom Cup

Bayern Munich’s smooth pre-season suddenly lurched into concern at the Allianz Arena when Jamal Musiala collapsed late on in the Telekom Cup clash with RB Leipzig – just minutes after he had seemingly killed the game.

The 23-year-old, on as a second-half substitute, had coolly finished to make it 3-1 to Bayern, capping what looked like a routine evening for Vincent Kompany’s side. Then the mood flipped.

As the clock wound down, Musiala began to stagger, his movements slowing, his balance clearly gone. Alarm spread quickly. New signing Ismael Saibari reacted before anyone else, rushing in to grab his teammate and stop him crashing to the turf.

For a few long seconds, the Allianz fell into a nervous hush.

Relief only started to seep in when a member of Bayern’s medical staff turned to the bench and raised a thumbs-up. Musiala, after treatment, was able to get back to his feet and walk off the pitch, supported on either side but moving under his own power. He was replaced by Bara Sapoko Ndiaye as Bayern saw out the 3-1 win.

Saibari’s dramatic debut

For Saibari, it was an unforgettable first outing in Bayern colours. Signed this summer from PSV Eindhoven and arriving off the back of his World Cup exploits with Morocco in North America, the midfielder had already stamped his mark on the game.

He set up Musiala’s goal with a sharp assist, then moments later found himself playing an entirely different role – the quick-thinking teammate who prevented a serious fall and possibly something worse. One debut, two decisive interventions.

In the mixed zone after full time, sporting director Max Eberl stepped in to calm the growing anxiety around Bayern’s playmaker.

“The most important thing, he's doing well!” Eberl said, offering the line everyone inside the club wanted to hear.

Laimer adds to Bayern’s worries

Musiala’s collapse overshadowed what had already been a physically bruising evening for Bayern. Kompany’s side had to contend with another setback almost from the opening whistle.

Konrad Laimer lasted only ten minutes before he was forced off with a painful foot problem, cutting short his night against his former club. The Austrian full-back was clearly in discomfort and unable to continue.

Eberl’s assessment of Laimer’s situation carried far less certainty.

“Konny took a hit relatively early on, and his foot swelled up pretty quickly as well. That's why he was taken off as a precaution,” he explained. “It was already the case that he couldn't run anymore; he had to be supported. That was visible. He wasn't running smoothly at all. How long it will take, I really can't say today.”

For Kompany, still shaping his Bayern in these early weeks, the sight of two key players needing attention in one evening was an unwelcome reminder of how fragile pre-season optimism can be.

Heat, intensity and a looming Super Cup

Germany’s current heatwave has turned every pre-season minute into a heavier physical load, and the scenes with Musiala underlined the strain of high-intensity football in such conditions. This was a friendly in name, but the tempo and the stakes – fitness, places, rhythm – were anything but gentle.

Bayern emerged with the win and, crucially, with reassuring news on Musiala. Yet the image of him swaying, then being caught by Saibari, will linger as the club heads into its first shot at silverware.

Next Saturday brings Borussia Dortmund in the German Super Cup final, the first real marker of Kompany’s tenure and of Bayern’s readiness to reclaim domestic dominance.

He will want goals, control and a statement performance. Above all, he will want a clean bill of health.