Musiala Fitness on the Mend: Kompany Optimistic for World Cup Push

Bayern Munich's talented midfielder Jamal Musiala is making steady progress in his fitness recovery, according to manager Vincent Kompany. Despite a recent ankle injury that sidelined him, Kompany remains upbeat about the 23-year-old's condition ahead of the upcoming World Cup.

Musiala, who missed the first half of the season due to a broken fibula sustained during last June's Club World Cup, had only recently returned to action in January. His latest setback came during Bayern's dominant 6-1 victory over Atalanta in the Champions League last-16 first leg, where he suffered an ankle injury. This forced him to sit out the return leg, which Bayern won 4-1, securing their progression.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Bayern's Bundesliga encounter with Union Berlin, Kompany emphasized the careful management of Musiala's recovery. "We're in constant contact with Jamal – depending on how he's progressing and how he's feeling," Kompany said. "At the moment, it's all on an individual basis. He'll rejoin the squad at the right moment. It's not just about his ankle; it's also about his fitness."

The Bayern boss highlighted Musiala's overall improvements: "He's improved physically; he's more stable. He exudes maturity. I hope things keep getting better in the run-up to the World Cup. I'm not worried; it's getting better and better." Musiala is expected to miss this weekend's match against Union Berlin but could potentially feature in Germany's friendlies against Switzerland and Ghana, though his participation remains uncertain.

In Musiala's absence, Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has called up promising Bayern youngsters Jonas Urbig and Lennart Karl. Kompany praised the move, stating, "It's good for Bayern and good for Germany. These are two young players who will play a major role in the national team in the future. This is the first step for them; they should enjoy it. They're not under any pressure right now; they'll have plenty of time for that later. At some point, they'll play a key role for the national team. I have every confidence in them."

Bayern's Bundesliga Charge Continues

Bayern Munich, sitting nine points clear at the top of the Bundesliga, aim to bounce back from their recent 1-1 draw against Bayer Leverkusen. The league leaders have won their last five Bundesliga matches prior to that stalemate and hold an unbeaten record in 13 meetings against Union Berlin (8 wins, 5 draws).

The upcoming fixture marks the third clash between the sides this season, following a 2-2 draw in November and a 3-2 Bayern victory in the DFB-Pokal in December. Union Berlin, currently ninth, come into the game off a 1-0 win over Freiburg and will look to build momentum.

Players to Watch

For Bayern, Michael Olise has been in scintillating form, notching 17 assists in the Bundesliga this season—a record for the opening 26 matchdays since data tracking began in 2004-05. Notably, Union Berlin is the only team against whom he has yet to record a direct goal involvement in three games.

On the Union side, Woo-yeong Jeong has emerged as a super-sub, scoring all three of his Bundesliga goals this season as a substitute, including a dramatic stoppage-time winner against Freiburg. Both teams have netted five goals from the bench in 2026, trailing only Eintracht Frankfurt (7) and Stuttgart (6).

Match Outlook

Bayern boast the highest average possession in the league at 66.5%, contrasting sharply with Union's league-low 37.7%. The Bavarians have amassed 67 points from 26 games, their third-best tally at this stage. Union have fared decently against top-half teams, collecting 19 points (5W-4D-5L), second only to Bayern (35) and Hoffenheim (23) in that regard.

Opta predicts a Bayern win with 76.3% probability, a draw at 14.1%, and a Union victory at just 9.6%. With their unbeaten streak against Union intact, Bayern are favored to extend their lead at the summit.