FC Bayern got off to a flying start in the Champions League with a 5-0 win over Bodo/Glimt. FCBinside shares three takeaways from the match.
After a tough first half, the Munich team turned it on against Bodo/Glimt and celebrated a convincing 5-0 victory —the game yielded the following takeaways:
1. Musiala’s goal tells only half the story
A return to the starting lineup, his first goal of the season, and to top it all off, FC Bayern’s historic 900th European Cup goal: At first glance, the evening could hardly have gone better for Jamal Musiala.
Bayern fans were likely particularly pleased by the scenes following his substitution in the 65th minute. Vincent Kompany greeted his protégé with a broad smile and gave him a hug. Musiala himself also seemed relaxed.
“I haven’t felt this way in a while. I’m happy,” the 23-year-old told DAZN after the match.
His joy is understandable. After a difficult few weeks and his roughly 30-minute appearance at Schalke, Musiala was back in the starting lineup for the first time. Kompany emphasized even before kickoff that Musiala had earned his spot in the starting lineup with his performance in training. FCB sporting director Christoph Freund also noted that the attacking star had “trained really well over the past 10 to 14 days.”
And yet, it would be premature to say the “old Musiala” is back after the 5-0 win.
Especially in the first half, it was clear that he still lacks rhythm. For long stretches, Musiala was barely involved in Munich’s offensive play; not every combination worked, and technically, things weren’t yet as second nature as they were in his prime. It wasn’t until just before halftime that his extraordinary quality shone through with a strong dribble.
This made what happened immediately after halftime all the more remarkable. Just 80 seconds in, Musiala scored the 1-0 goal with a turn, opening up a game that had previously been reminiscent of the grueling match at Schalke.
Perhaps that is the best news for Bayern from the evening: Musiala isn’t quite back to his old self yet—and yet he’s already capable of deciding games again.
Freund also doesn’t think the 23-year-old has reached his full potential yet. Musiala is “in good form and on his way there,” Freund said. The player himself also knows that there are still “steps to take.”
If Musiala can already be the game-changer in a Champions League match at this stage, there’s still a lot to look forward to. Maybe it won’t be long at all before Bayern fans actually get to see the old Musiala again. Against Bodo/Glimt, he wasn’t quite there yet. But for the first time, he was clearly recognizable again.
2. Diaz is sliding toward a slump
While Musiala’s form is on the rise, things are currently heading in the opposite direction for Luis Diaz. The Colombian was also among the few Bayern players who couldn’t be satisfied with their individual performances in the 5-0 win.
Diaz tried hard but was largely unlucky. In the first half, he gave the ball away several times; after the break, he disappeared from the game for long stretches. In the FCBinside player ratings, he received a 4 —the lowest score of all Bayern starters.
Moreover, this was not an isolated slip-up. Diaz had already squandered several good chances in the 0–0 draw at Schalke. Since his goal in the 5–1 win over VfB Stuttgart on the first Bundesliga matchday, he has gone four competitive games without directly contributing to a goal.
Michael Ballack summed up the current problem well on DAZN. Diaz is still “looking to find his rhythm, his form, and the little things you need as an offensive player.” The former Bayern pro also pointed to poor ball control and lost one-on-one duels.
It would be an exaggeration to call this a crisis. But a dip in form can no longer be overlooked. Especially as competition is heating up: Musiala is returning, Ismael Saibari has joined the squad, Lennart Karl is pushing for playing time, and at some point, Serge Gnabry will also be an option again.
Diaz has long since proven in Munich just how much of a difference he can make. Right now, though, he lacks that fluidity that usually characterizes his play. The coming weeks will show how quickly he can regain it.
3. Olise Becomes a Versatile Weapon
There’s no need for a long debate about who was the best player of the night. Michael Olise scored two goals, set up another, and was named Man of the Match by UEFA. In the FCBinside individual player ratings, the Frenchman received a perfect score of 1.
Almost more interesting than his stats, however, was where Olise appeared on the field as the match progressed.
After Musiala was substituted, the 24-year-old moved more into the center. Lennart Karl took over the right side more often, though the two kept switching positions. Kompany confirmed after the game that this freedom is explicitly intended.
“Michael has freedom on the field, whether he’s playing as the number 10 or on the right wing,” explained the Bayern coach.
This makes Olise even harder for opponents to read. The left-footed player can still cut inside from the right, but at the same time has the freedom to seek out space in the center. His dream goal from long range to make it 4-0 was the most spectacular example of this.
This opens up an additional option for Kompany. Musiala remains the natural number 10, while Olise is world-class on the right. Within a single game, however, these positions no longer need to be strictly defined.
The 5–0 win over Bodo/Glimt therefore didn’t just showcase Olise’s current form. It also hinted at just how much freedom Kompany intends to give his game-changer in the future. For Bayern Munich’s opponents, that’s not a pleasant prospect.