This is not just bad news; it's a 'curse of injury.' Jamal Musiala (22, Bayern Munich) is unable to participate in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League.

Bayern Munich solidified their top position with a 3-1 victory over Augsburg in the 28th round of the 2024-2025 season Bundesliga held at WWK Arena in Augsburg, Germany, at 3:30 a.m. on the 5th (Korea time).

With this victory, Bayern recorded 68 points (21 wins, 5 draws, 2 losses), extending their lead to 9 points over second-place Bayer Leverkusen (59 points), which has yet to play their match. This puts Bayern in a favorable position in the Bundesliga title race.

Bayern adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation. Harry Kane occupied the forward position, while Leroy Sané, Jamal Musiala, and Michael Olise played in the attacking midfield. João Palhinha and Joshua Kimmich protected the back four, and Josip Stanišić, Kim Min-jae, Eric Dier, and Konrad Laimer formed the defensive line. Jonas Urbig guarded the goal.

Despite securing a valuable victory, Bayern could not smile. This was due to the injury of key forward Jamal Musiala, which added a serious burden to the team.

Bayern took control from the early stages of the match. In the 30th minute of the first half, they conceded a goal to Janulis due to a lapse in defensive focus during a set-piece situation. However, they quickly turned the momentum around, with Musiala calmly finishing a through pass from Sané to equalize in the 42nd minute.

In the early moments of the second half, the dynamics of the match changed rapidly. In the 53rd minute, Musiala fell to the ground, expressing discomfort in the hamstring, immediately signaling for a substitution and heading to the locker room. This scene caused significant shock on the Bayern bench, and fans expressed deep concerns.

After that, Bayern maintained their focus. In the 58th minute, Kane drew a foul from Chechigor during a counterattack, creating a numerical advantage for the team. From the ensuing set-piece, Kane executed a header from Olise's precise cross to turn the score around. Just before the end of the match, Sané's pass deflected off the opposing defense, leading to an additional goal.

In defense, Kim Min-jae's performance stood out significantly. Despite Achilles tendon pain and a decrease in condition, he managed to play the full match, leading the overall defense. Notably, in the 90th minute, he quickly reacted after a mistake by Dier to block the opponent's crucial shot and save the team.

Kim Min-jae recorded a pass success rate of 94% with 77 passes, winning 3 out of 5 aerial duels. He also recorded 1 interception and 4 clearances, showcasing stable defensive ability.

With this victory, Bayern added 3 points, but Musiala's injury poses a threat beyond just the match result. Musiala, who has scored 17 goals and provided 5 assists in 40 matches, including cup competitions this season, is a key resource in the team's attack. In this match, he played a decisive role in reviving the momentum with his equalizing goal.

With numerous key players already sidelined due to injuries, including Dayot Upamecano, Alphonso Davies, Kingsley Coman, Aleksandar Pavlović, and Hiroki Ito, if Musiala is also lost, Bayern will inevitably face a critical loss of strength in the remaining fixtures of the season.

In response, Germany's 'Sport1' reported on the 5th, "Bayern's injury problems are intensifying. After a wave of injuries in defense, 'dribbling artist' Jamal Musiala has also succumbed to an injury during the Augsburg match."

The media reported, "He had a problem with his left thigh while landing. Musiala collapsed in pain, ultimately being substituted after receiving emergency treatment, with Thomas Müller taking his place."

They added, "Musiala will not be able to participate in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal at home against Inter Milan on April 9."

'Sport1' explained, "This is yet another shock for Bayern Munich. The club's Director General, Max Eberl, confirmed that Musiala will not participate in the first leg of the Champions League on Tuesday against Inter Milan."

According to the report, Director General Eberl said, "First, there will be a thorough examination, and then we will need to continue monitoring. It doesn’t look good. He doesn’t appear to be in good enough condition to play in the next game."

[OSEN]