Jamal Musiala was forced off with a hamstring injury in the second half of Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga victory over Ausburg on Friday.
Max Eberl, Bayern’s board member for sport, confirmed at full time the 22-year-old attacking midfielder was expected to miss Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Inter.
Musiala went down clutching the back of his left thigh after attempting to charge down a clearance from Ausburg goalkeeper Finn Dahmen.
He was helped off the pitch by two Bayern staff members and was replaced by Thomas Muller after 54 minutes.
“It doesn’t look so brilliant,” Eberl said. “He won’t be there for Tuesday.”
Musiala has been a key part of Vincent Kompany’s side this season, providing 12 goals and eight assists across 40 appearances in all competitions.
He had scored Bayern’s equalising goal during Friday’s 3-1 win, turning home Leroy Sane’s cross on 42 minutes. A second-half Harry Kane finish and stoppage time Chrislain Matsima own goal secured all three points for Bayern after Dimitris Giannoulis had given the hosts the lead.
Bayern are already without Alphonso Davies, Hiroki Ito, Dayot Upamecano, Manuel Neuer and Aleksandar Pavlovic through injury or illness.
“It’s obviously extremely bitter, regardless of whether it’s Jamal or someone else,” midfielder Joshua Kimmich said at full time. “It’s crazy how many injuries we have right now.”
Following Tuesday’s Champions League tie, Bayern host Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga on Saturday, before the second leg away to Inter on April 16.
What does Musiala’s injury mean for Bayern?
The last thing that Bayern Munich needed. Vincent Kompany’s side have already been decimated by defensive injuries and this is another blow, ahead of the Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday night. Alphonso Davies, Hiroki Ito and Dayot Upamecano are all out, and Aleskandar Pavlovic is still recovering from glandular fever.
Arguably, this is the worst news of the lot. Whereas Kompany can just about piece together a cohesive defensive out of his remaining players — Eric Dier and Josip Stanisic did well in Augsburg — there is nobody in the Bayern squad capable of replicating what Musiala provides.
They have nobody who can receive the ball in the same space. Nobody who can create chances in the same way from central areas. Nobody who can carry the ball in such a beguiling, destructive manner. In many ways, Musiala’s attacking productivity was a way in which — theoretically — Bayern could make up for what they didn’t have in defence. Not now, though.
What’s the solution? Thomas Muller playing behind Harry Kane is an option. But Musiala is used in a broader way by Kompany, as part No 10, part No 8, and that might be beyond Muller at this stage of his career. Perhaps a reformatted midfield, with Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich and Joao Palhinha as a three? Kompany might bring one of his wide forwards inside and use Serge Gnabry or Michael Olise in a more central role, to try to replicate Musiala’s dynamism and skill.
It’s possible, but no option is especially appealing. What a headache.
(Alexandra Beier/AFP via Getty Images)