Bayern Munich Faces Dortmund in Super Cup Without Musiala

Bayern Munich step into the new season on Saturday with a trophy already on the line and a familiar rival in the opposite dugout. Borussia Dortmund await in the Franz Beckenbauer Super Cup, the rebranded curtain-raiser to the German campaign, and the Allianz Arena expects a statement from Vincent Kompany’s side.

They will have to make it without one of their brightest stars.

Musiala left out of Super Cup, but Bayern stay calm

Jamal Musiala will sit out the clash with Dortmund as Bayern move cautiously after a worrying week. The 23-year-old collapsed twice in four days during pre-season, first against RB Leipzig and then versus Heidenheim. Both incidents sent a jolt through the club and the fanbase.

Musiala later explained on social media that a minor neurological issue triggered the collapses. He stressed it will not end his career or stop him playing for Bayern, but the club has decided not to take any risks in the Super Cup.

Kompany still has a strong squad at his disposal, yet the decision around Musiala is deliberate. Bayern do not want to overload him days after those scares, even with a trophy at stake and Dortmund in town.

Medication change behind fresh scare

Inside Säbener Straße, there is no sense of panic. Bayern have known about Musiala’s neurological condition for more than a year. It has been monitored, managed and, until recently, under control.

The recent problems, Max Eberl and Kompany revealed in Friday’s pre-match press conference, stem from side effects linked to a change in medication. The plan now is straightforward: Musiala is expected to return to the previous treatment that had worked well for him.

He trained individually at Säbener Straße under close supervision from medical and coaching staff, a clear sign Bayern believe the situation is manageable. The club hierarchy stands firmly behind him, convinced he can stay healthy and deliver a big season.

Inside the dressing room, his condition is not treated as a dramatic new development. Team-mates have publicly rallied around him in recent days, but many have known about the issue for some time. Support, not shock, is the prevailing mood.

Eyes on Stuttgart opener

The Super Cup comes too soon, yet Bayern remain optimistic about the Bundesliga opener. The club is hopeful Musiala will be ready to face VfB Stuttgart next Friday, a game that truly starts Kompany’s league era in Munich.

If that timeline holds, Saturday’s absence becomes a precaution rather than a headline crisis. Bayern want Musiala sharp, fit and fearless when the points start counting, not just for a symbolic trophy in August.

A year to reclaim

The last 12 months have already tested him. Musiala suffered a serious injury against PSG in the Club World Cup last summer, a blow that ruled him out for more than seven months. When he finally returned, rhythm and sharpness did not come back overnight.

He has been chasing his old level ever since. Bayern’s hierarchy and supporters believe this season can still be his reset, the campaign where the interruptions stop and the talent takes over again.

For that to happen, days like Saturday matter. Not because he plays, but because he doesn’t.

More absences for Kompany

Musiala is not the only name missing from Kompany’s team sheet against Dortmund. Lennart Karl and Serge Gnabry are also ruled out as they continue their recovery from injuries, trimming Bayern’s options for the season’s first real test.

Even so, the expectation in Munich is unchanged: trophies, high standards, and a Bayern side that looks ready from day one.

The Super Cup will offer an early glimpse of Kompany’s Bayern. The real judgment on this season, and on Musiala’s comeback, starts once the Bundesliga kicks off and the ball rolls against Stuttgart.