Injuries threaten Bayern Munich as Kane, Kim Min-jae face season uncertainties

Clouds have gathered over the 'double' challenge of Kim Min-jae (29) and Harry Kane (32). Bayern Munich has lost its ace Jamal Musiala (22).

Bayern announced on the 5th (Korea time), "Musiala has suffered a muscle injury. Bayern will be without him for the time being. Medical team checks confirmed that Musiala has ruptured his left hamstring muscle during the match against Augsburg."

On the same day, Bayern secured a comeback victory against Augsburg with a score of 3-1 in the 28th round of the 2024-2025 Bundesliga season, held at the WWK Arena in Augsburg, Germany. Bayern recorded 21 wins, 5 draws, and 2 losses, maintaining a 6-point lead over Bayer Leverkusen (62 points) with a total of 68 points.

However, they could not smile despite the valuable comeback victory. This was due to the 'core of the attack' Musiala collapsing alone. He suddenly fell to the ground after extending his foot to pressure the opponent's goalkeeper six minutes into the second half.

Musiala grimaced while touching the back of his thigh, and even after receiving medical attention, he could not walk by himself. Eventually, he was assisted by medical staff as he left the field. Thomas Müller was immediately brought in as a substitute.

According to 'Sky Sports Germany,' Musiala's injury is serious. The media reported, "Musiala will be sidelined for an extended period due to a muscle tear. He sustained a severe injury in the match against Augsburg, resulting in a torn ligament."

He is essentially out for the season. Sky Sports stated, "This is shocking news for Bayern!" They explained, "Musiala is expected to be unavailable for approximately 8 weeks due to the torn muscle. Therefore, he will miss both legs of the quarterfinals against Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League (UCL)."

Bayern will conclude its Bundesliga schedule for this season with a match against Hoffenheim on May 17. The chances of Musiala returning within that time frame are very slim. According to Sky Sports, he hopes to play again before the end of the season, but unless Bayern reaches the UCL final, there may be no remaining matches.

It is literally an emergency. Musiala is Kane's top partner and a key asset in leading Bayern's attack. He has recorded 18 goals and 8 assists in 40 competitive matches this season. Moreover, he boasts an influence that goes beyond simple attacking points with his playmaking and creative skills.

With Musiala collapsing, Bayern has become a hospital at a crucial time. Due to the aftermath of the March A matches, Alphonso Davies and Dayot Upamecano are already out for the season, and Hiroki Ito suffered a recurrence of a midfoot bone fracture in the match against St. Pauli, resulting in a season-ending injury. After depleting the defensive line, the core of the attack has now fallen.

Additionally, Kim Min-jae and Kane are not in good condition. Kim Min-jae has not fully recovered from an Achilles injury, and Kane reported that he sustained an injury to his ankle after colliding with an opponent in the match against Augsburg. He said, "I rolled my ankle, and it’s a little swollen. But I’m used to it. I've dealt with this injury a few times."

As injuries pile up, the hope for Bayern's championship challenge has dimmed. Bayern is still leading the Bundesliga, but with 6 matches remaining, they cannot be complacent. If either Kim Min-jae or Kane were to get injured, a reversal would not be surprising. Bayern is also vying for UCL glory, but concerns are growing as they head into the quarterfinals against Inter Milan.

If Bayern falters at the last minute and misses out on the trophy, Kane's escape from 'no trophies' will also be delayed. He is a world-class striker who has scored 33 goals and provided 10 assists in 39 matches this season, but he has never won a championship throughout his career. He left Tottenham to join Bayern in the summer of 2023 to win a title, but ironically, Bayern is facing the prospect of finishing without a trophy for the first time in 11 years.

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