Jamal Musiala made an impressive return in FC Bayern’s Champions League opener. In the 5-0 victory over Bodø/Glimt, the 23-year-old celebrated his return to the starting lineup and scored the crucial 1-0 goal immediately after halftime. After the game, however, Joshua Kimmich spoke not only about his teammate’s on-field performance.
Musiala had collapsed twice during preseason and subsequently went public about his neurological condition. The topic is naturally a focus within the team as well.
After the victory over the Norwegians, Kimmich revealed how the Bayern players would react should such an incident occur with Musiala during training. “I was extremely happy for Jamal,” the 31-year-old explained.
When asked how the team would handle a collapse by Musiala on the training field, Kimmich replied: “Just like you saw in the game. We go over and make sure to lay him down on the ground. Then the doctors and physical therapists come and take care of him.”
Kimmich offers insight into the daily training routine
In doing so, Kimmich offered a rare glimpse into how the team handles their teammate’s unique situation. The players first attend to Musiala, after which the club’s medical staff takes over.
No such incident occurred during the Champions League opener. Instead, Musiala was able to enjoy his first start of the season and make a strong impression on the field.
Even before kickoff, Bayern officials had emphasized that they had no medical concerns about him starting the game. Coach Vincent Kompany justified his decision based on the offensive player’s performances in training.
“Jamal has earned this opportunity, and if everything goes well today and he shows what he’s shown in training, it’ll be a treat for the fans,” Kompany explained to DAZN before the game.
Musiala Makes a Comeback with a Goal
The Bayern coach was proven right. In the 47th minute, Musiala provided the emotional highlight of the evening. The 23-year-old controlled the ball powerfully and scored the much-needed 1-0 lead. His teammates celebrated the goal with him.
Harry Kane was also particularly happy for Musiala after the final whistle: “I was really happy for him. Jamal had been through a tough time. Today I saw the joy on his face.”
For Musiala, the goal was another important step on the road back to his usual rhythm. After making his comeback as a substitute in the 0-0 draw against Schalke, he made his first start against Bodø/Glimt.
The fact that Musiala is back on the field from the start is also important news for Bayern from a sporting perspective. At the same time, Kimmich’s comments make it clear that his teammates and the medical staff continue to know exactly how to respond in the event of another setback.