Jamal Musiala celebrated a perfect return to the starting lineup in Bayern Munich’s 5-0 victory over Bodø/Glimt. The 23-year-old put Munich on the path to victory shortly after halftime and also scored the German record champions’ historic 900th European Cup goal.
For Musiala, it was a very special evening after a difficult few weeks. Following his health issues, the attacking star had recently been carefully reintegrated into the team. In the 0-0 draw at Schalke, he had already racked up more than 30 minutes of playing time, and against Bodø/Glimt, he was allowed to start for the first time since his return.
The fact that Musiala scored right away and also impressed with his play delighted his teammates in particular. After the final whistle, Harry Kane heaped special praise on the German international while speaking into the DAZN microphone. “I’m really happy for him. He had a tough time at the start of preseason. It’s great to see him smiling again,” explained the Bayern striker.
“You can see his hunger and his energy.”
Kane has watched Musiala train every day over the past few weeks and sees clear progress. Mentally, in particular, the Bayern star seems to have shed a weight since his return. “You can tell that some of the pressure has lifted off him. Things are going really well for him now. He’s training very hard,” Kane gushed.
The Englishman is particularly impressed by Musiala’s presence on the training field: “You can see his hunger and his energy in training.”
Musiala brought exactly those qualities back onto the field against Bodø/Glimt. Time and again, he sought out tight spaces and created danger around the opponent’s penalty area.
“He brought that into the game. He was very dangerous in the final third and, of course, finished his goal brilliantly,” Kane continued.
Musiala himself also hinted after the game at how important this evening was to him. The 23-year-old explained that he hadn’t felt that way on the field in quite a while. Now he wants to get back to his usual level, step by step.
Kompany: “We knew this moment was coming”
Vincent Kompany also expressed relief after the match regarding Musiala’s successful return to the starting lineup. “Me, 75,000 people, and probably even more were just happy for him,” the Bayern coach told DAZN.
For Kompany, however, Musiala’s strong performance came as no surprise at all. Even before the match, the Belgian had emphasized that the attacking player had earned his spot in the starting lineup with strong performances in training.
After the game, Kompany explained: “We knew this moment was coming. But you can’t just talk about it—it has to happen.” The opening goal, in particular, could help Musiala on his continued journey back to his former form. For Kompany, it was therefore a “very important goal.”
“That was important for him, but also for the public. It’s good for him that he scored that goal and played those 60 minutes. He’s really starting to find his rhythm,” the Bayern coach concluded.
After a difficult few weeks, Musiala seems to have taken the next important step. The goal, the decisive victory, and the praise from his teammates and coach should give him an extra boost of confidence.