He’s baaack! After a preseason health scare, Jamal Musiala returned to the Bayern Munich starting XI on Thursday in the Bavarians’ opening match of their 2026/27 Champions League campaign.
The 23-year-old had already made a cameo appearance off the bench in the Bundesliga, but this was his first action of the season from the starting whistle. And Musiala showed why he has been the virtuoso depended upon by club and country for so many years already — carving out one of the best chances of what would
ultimately be a scoreless first half with his tricky feet, and then blasting in the opening goal just after the break to get the Bayern steamroller going.
Bayern would eventually win 5-0 — no David versus Goliath story this time for the Norwegian side that emerged as last year’s Champions League darlings.
“I’m very happy to have scored, happy to be back in the starting lineup in the Champions League,” Musiala said after the game in comments captured by @iMiaSanMia. “I’m getting my rhythm back. The team really supported me, the coach, my teammates, they were a big help. I want to perform — and step by step, have fun again and get back to my [best].”
Musiala returned to his customary No. 10 position, which had been manned in his absence by a committee of Ismael Saibari, Nathaniel Brown, and even right-back Konrad Laimer. The German international looks well on his way to reclaiming his spot.
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