In his starting eleven comeback, a beaming Jamal Musiala led FC Bayern to their next opening win in the Champions League. With his opening goal, the national soccer player initiated the German champions' well-deserved and ultimately clear 5-0 (0-0) win against last year's frightened favorites FK Bodö/Glimt.
Coach Vincent Kompany's team followed up their confident title announcements with action with their 23rd opening win in a row in Europe's premier class. After Musiala had cracked the Norwegians' defensive bulwark for the first time in the 47th minute, striker Harry Kane added several more with his header (61'), Alphonso Davies with a powerful long-range shot (77') and Michael Olise with a brace (83'/90'+2). Shortly before the end, Odin Björtuft saw the guests' red card after an emergency stop.
Kompany hugs Musiala
The man of the evening in the sold-out Allianz Arena was of course Musiala. Shortly after the break, the offensive wizard got the ball in the penalty area. After a lightning-fast turn, he hit the far corner with his strong right foot. A class goal. The 23-year-old beamed as he accepted his teammates' congratulations. And the 75,000 spectators loudly shouted his name. “Jamal deserves this effort,” Kompany explained the surprising starting eleven nomination to DAZN before kick-off.
The tenth goal in Europe's premier class was a very special one for Musiala after his collapses in two pre-season friendly games. It marks the next step back towards normality for the professional suffering from neurological dysfunction. “It’s a situation that we’ve been managing for a long time,” said Kompany. But the warm embrace between coach and player when Musiala was substituted demonstrated the importance of this evening and this goal (65th).
Bayern initially had difficulty scoring goals
One day after the impressive victories of defending champions Paris Saint-Germain (6:1 against Slovan Bratislava) and co-favorites FC Barcelona with former Bayern coach Hansi Flick (5:1 against Feyenoord Rotterdam), scoring goals was initially not that easy for the German record champions. And there were several reasons for that. The guests from Norway compacted the space extremely with a five-man chain and another four-man line in front of them. In the constant siege in front of the opponent's penalty area, Bayern found it difficult to find gaps.
Goal scorer Kane and playmaker Musiala in the center had a particularly difficult time. Musiala repeatedly tried to weave past the opponents while in possession of the ball, but he also got lost several times. He had his first big individual action in the 40th minute. But he shot too centrally.
Bodö's strong goalkeeper Nikita Haikin was out injured at halftime
Even though Bayern struggled to patiently run up and combine, they could have had a clear lead at the break. But the crowning conclusion was missing. And Bodö also had its best man in goal in Nikita Haikin. With a reflex, the 31-year-old parried a header from Luis Díaz (5th), Musiala's shot (40th) and, quickly, a volley from Joshua Kimmich (44th). The midfielder was also unlucky with a shot that hit the post, which Haikin wouldn't have saved either (35').
However, Bodö's support was injured shortly before the end of the first half. He did not return to goal after the break. Julian Faye Lund replaced him. And the 27-year-old had no chance when Musiala shot. And the Norwegian was also powerless to concede any further goals.
On the other hand, Bayern captain Manuel Neuer spent a relatively quiet day at work at the start of his 18th Champions League season (German record). The 40-year-old was mostly able to watch the people in front of him as they constantly besieged the opponent's goal.
