Jamal Musiala's return from a long-term injury is a significant boost for Bayern Munich as they navigate a demanding winter schedule. After a seven-month absence due to a broken leg sustained last summer, Musiala has returned to action, providing a much-needed injection of creativity and dynamism into the team.

Musiala's comeback started in mid-January against RB Leipzig, where he even managed to provide an assist shortly after coming on. His return to the starting lineup occurred in a Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven, marking it with a goal in the 58th minute of Bayern's 2-1 victory. Musiala expressed his joy, stating, "I'm really happy about my goal. My mum's already sent me a thousand WhatsApp messages. Most of all I'm happy to be back on the pitch". He also acknowledged needing to continue raising his level after being away from the pitch for so long.

Bayern Munich has been carefully managing Musiala's integration back into the squad. Coach Vincent Kompany has emphasized patience, aiming to get Musiala to his best level by Bayern's first knockout-stage match in February. Before his injury, Musiala sustained the injury during the Club World Cup clash against Paris Saint-Germain, and he was a key player for Bayern, and his absence was felt. Harry Kane highlighted Musiala's importance to the team's Champions League ambitions, acknowledging how much they'll need his quality in the games ahead.

Despite Musiala's absence, Bayern Munich has maintained a strong position in the Bundesliga, although they recently suffered their first league defeat since last March against Augsburg. They currently sit atop the Bundesliga table with 50 points from 19 matches. The team's focus remains on reacting positively to the defeat and reasserting their dominance in the league. Bayern's strong start to the league saw them go undefeated through 18 rounds.

The winter transfer window saw Bayern bring in Bara Sapoko Ndiaye on loan and recall Daniel Peretz from Hamburg, while sending Peretz to Southampton on loan. Other players sidelined with injuries include Konrad Laimer and Josip Stanišić. Alphonso Davies had been sidelined with illness after recovering from his ACL injury.

Bayern's next challenge is a Bundesliga match against Hamburg, where they will aim to bounce back from their recent defeat. The team had previously defeated Hamburg 5-0 earlier in the season.