Jamal Musiala made an emotional return to Champions League football by scoring in Bayern Munich’s 5-0 win over Bodo/Glimt, having previously collapsed twice during consecutive pre-season matches.
The Germany international was named in Bayern’s starting XI for the first time since those incidents and opened the scoring in the 47th minute. Musiala then celebrated alongside Aleksandar Pavlovic before turning towards the stands and repeatedly pointing to the side of his head.
It was the 23-year-old’s first goal of the season, but the significance of the moment extended beyond ending his wait to score. His celebration underlined the personal nature of a comeback following a frightening period away from the team.
Musiala returns after neurological diagnosis
The two collapses were the first public indication of a neurological condition that Musiala and Bayern Munich had known about since at least last season.
Musiala later said he had been diagnosed with “absence seizures caused by a neurological dysfunction”. He also made clear that the condition was not considered a risk to his health and that he planned to continue playing.
Bayern left him out of their squad for three matches while he adjusted to what manager Vincent Kompany described as a change in his medication. The situation also brought the emotional burden of having his condition suddenly become public.
Musiala’s first appearance since the incidents came as a substitute in Saturday’s goalless Bundesliga draw with Schalke. His Champions League return against Bodo/Glimt, however, represented a more significant step.
This time, he was restored to the starting line-up and responded with a goal as Bayern produced a five-goal victory.
The occasion was therefore about more than the result or Musiala’s contribution to the scoreline. After being forced to step away from Bayern’s team following two on-pitch collapses, he was back in the side and had made an immediate impact on one of European football’s biggest stages.
His goal arrived only two minutes after the interval, giving him the opportunity to acknowledge the supporters in a celebration that appeared to reflect both relief and determination. For Bayern, it completed a convincing win; for Musiala, it provided a powerful marker of his return.