Bayern Munich Faces Borussia Dortmund in Super Cup Without Jamal Musiala

Bayern Munich step into the new season on Saturday with a trophy on the line and a notable absence in their starting plans.

Vincent Kompany’s side face Borussia Dortmund in the Franz Beckenbauer Super Cup, the traditional curtain-raiser to the German campaign and the latest chapter of a rivalry that rarely needs extra spice. The Allianz Arena crowd will demand a statement against their old foes. They will not see Jamal Musiala.

The 23-year-old will sit this one out as Bayern move cautiously after two alarming moments in pre-season. Musiala collapsed in friendlies against RB Leipzig and Heidenheim within four days, a sequence that sent a jolt through the club and the fanbase.

He later addressed the incidents on social media, explaining that a minor neurological issue had triggered the collapses. He stressed that the condition will not endanger his career or stop him playing for Die Roten, but Bayern have decided not to take any chances in the Super Cup.

Bayern take no risks now – to have him later

Inside Säbener Straße, the tone is calm rather than panicked. Bayern have known about Musiala’s neurological condition for over a year. The recent problems, club figures say, stem from side effects after a change in his medication.

At Friday’s pre-match press conference, Max Eberl and Kompany outlined the situation. The plan is for Musiala to return to the previous medication that had suited him, with the expectation that the issues will settle.

The midfielder trained individually at Säbener Straße this week under close supervision from medical and coaching staff. The sessions were tailored, controlled, and watched carefully. The club’s stance is clear: manage the short-term carefully to protect the long-term.

The payoff could come quickly. Bayern remain optimistic that Musiala will be ready for the Bundesliga opener against VfB Stuttgart next Friday. Internally, there is confidence rather than doubt about his availability for that game.

Inside the dressing room, quiet support and big expectations

Publicly, Bayern players have rallied around Musiala in recent days. Privately, this is not new information to them. The squad has been aware of his condition for some time, which is why the focus has been on support, not shock.

At club level, his situation is not treated as a daily talking point. The message is that Musiala is a key part of the project, and the club expects him to stay healthy and deliver a major season.

That expectation comes after a brutal year. Musiala endured a difficult 12 months, starting with a serious injury against PSG at the Club World Cup last summer. The setback kept him out for more than seven months, halting his rise just as he looked ready to dominate.

When he finally returned, he needed time to rediscover rhythm, sharpness, and that trademark glide between the lines. Bayern’s hierarchy and supporters are now looking at this campaign as his reset: a clean slate, a fully fit Musiala driving their attack.

Kompany’s first big selection call

For Kompany, the Super Cup already asks for flexibility. Musiala is not the only absentee. Lennart Karl and Serge Gnabry will also miss the clash with Dortmund as they continue their recoveries from injury.

It leaves Bayern’s new coach to juggle his options in a high-stakes opener against their fiercest domestic rival, while one of his most gifted players watches from the sidelines.

The season starts with caution around a star who should define Bayern’s future. The question now is simple: when the Bundesliga kicks off against Stuttgart, will Musiala be the one setting the tone for a very different year?