Bayern Munich's Super Cup Challenge Without Musiala

Bayern Munich will launch their season on Saturday with a Klassiker curtain-raiser, facing Borussia Dortmund in the Franz Beckenbauer Super Cup – the rebranded DFL-Supercup – and they will have to do it without one of their brightest stars.

Musiala sidelined for Super Cup after worrying week

Vincent Kompany goes into his first competitive game in charge with a powerful squad, but Jamal Musiala has been deliberately pulled out of the clash. Bayern are refusing to take any risks after a deeply unsettling few days for the 23-year-old.

Musiala collapsed twice in the space of four days during pre-season, in friendlies against RB Leipzig and Heidenheim. The scenes sent a jolt through the club and the fanbase. On social media, the Germany international later explained that a minor neurological issue had caused the incidents, stressing that it would not endanger his career or stop him playing for Bayern.

The club’s medical department has taken a more cautious stance for now. Bayern want no repeat in a high-intensity Super Cup against their fiercest domestic rivals, so Musiala will sit this one out.

Bayern eye Bundesliga return for Musiala

Behind the scenes, though, there is optimism. Bayern are confident Musiala will be ready for the Bundesliga opener against VfB Stuttgart next Friday.

The playmaker trained individually at Säbener Straße, working under the close eye of medical staff and coaches. The session was tailored, controlled, and watched carefully – a clear sign Bayern are managing the situation rather than reacting in panic.

At the pre-Super Cup press conference, Max Eberl and Kompany shed more light on the case. Bayern have known about Musiala’s neurological condition for over a year. The recent collapses, they explained, stem from side effects after a change in medication rather than a new or worsening problem.

The plan is straightforward: Musiala is expected to revert to the previous medication that had been working for him. Inside the club, there is firm backing for the attacking midfielder and a strong belief that he can stay healthy and deliver a big season.

Inside the dressing room: support, not shock

Within the squad, Musiala’s condition is not treated as a bombshell revelation. Team-mates have been aware of it for some time. Public messages of support over the last week reflected concern, but not surprise.

The focus around Musiala in Munich is not on fear, but on his football. Bayern want him on the pitch, dictating games again after a difficult year.

The last 12 months have already tested him. Musiala suffered a serious injury against PSG in the Club World Cup last summer, an issue that sidelined him for more than seven months. The lay-off broke his rhythm, and even after returning, he needed time to rediscover timing, sharpness, and confidence in tight spaces.

Bayern’s hierarchy and fans are united in their hope: this is the season he finally gets a clean run. No long-term injuries. No medical scares. Just football.

Kompany’s first selection headache

For Saturday, though, Kompany has to improvise. Musiala is not the only absentee. Lennart Karl and Serge Gnabry will also miss the Super Cup as they continue their recoveries from injury.

The absences open a window for others in Bayern’s stacked attacking unit to stake an early claim. The stage is big, the opponent familiar, the stakes emotional even if the trophy is a season opener.

Bayern step into a new campaign with a new coach, a new Super Cup name, and an old rivalry. How quickly Musiala can rejoin that story may say a lot about where their season is headed.