Bundesliga Daily Report - 2026-08-25

Bayern Munich will not risk Jamal Musiala in Friday’s Bundesliga opener against VfB Stuttgart, according to reports cited by Goal. The Germany international has suffered two recent fainting episodes, first during a friendly against Leipzig on 15 August and again three days later against Heidenheim. He also missed last week’s German Super Cup while undergoing rehabilitation and medical monitoring. The incidents have reportedly been linked to a neurological disorder involving temporary loss of consciousness or responsiveness. Bayern’s medical team adjusted Musiala’s medication, while the midfielder continued individual training from last Thursday rather than joining the squad for the start of the campaign.

Musiala’s absence removes one of Bayern’s principal attacking options from the first major fixture of the new season and places greater emphasis on the players available to Vincent Kompany. The decision also underlines the club’s cautious approach after two episodes in quick succession, with his health taking priority over an early competitive appearance. Bayern begin the campaign as champions and host Stuttgart on Friday, while Konrad Laimer said the team expected a demanding contest against opponents who had made strong progress in recent seasons. Musiala’s rehabilitation and return to full team training will therefore be watched closely in the opening weeks.

Edin Džeko made an immediate case for a leading role at Schalke by scoring twice in Monday’s 5-2 extra-time win over Hallescher FC in the first round of the German Cup. The 40-year-old forward also supplied an assist for one of the decisive goals after entering in the 64th minute. He had originally been expected to play only 15 minutes, with Schalke keen to preserve him for Sunday’s Bundesliga opener at Augsburg. Instead, the Bosnian spent around an hour on the pitch and helped the newly promoted side avoid a serious cup scare.

Coach Miron Muslić said Džeko still possessed the positioning, combination play and instinct required in the penalty area, while team-mate Robin Gosens praised his presence and experience. Gosens also stressed that Schalke’s attacking threat should not be reduced to dependence on one veteran striker, with Moussa Sylla and the rest of the forward line also important. Džeko’s contribution nevertheless gives Schalke an encouraging early reference point as they return to the top flight after three seasons away. His fitness and workload will be central to how Muslić manages the opening fixtures.

Christopher Nkunku has returned to RB Leipzig on a season-long loan from AC Milan, completing one of the summer’s most notable Bundesliga moves. The French forward spent four seasons at Leipzig and became one of the defining players of the club’s modern era before leaving for Chelsea. He later moved to Milan, from where he now comes back to provide creativity, goals and versatility for Martín Demichelis’ attack. Leipzig were seeking reinforcement after Yan Diomande’s departure to Real Madrid created a significant vacancy in the frontline.

The move also represents a change of direction after several alternative targets failed to materialise. Leipzig had pursued Fisnik Asllani before concerns during his medical halted that deal, while Diego Moreira ultimately chose AC Milan after Strasbourg demanded too much. Said El Mala was also considered before Köln extended the teenager’s contract. Returning to a player already familiar with the club gives Leipzig experience and an established connection with supporters, while Nkunku’s adaptation should be quicker than that of a new arrival. His fitness and output will shape the side’s response to Diomande’s departure.

Hamburg have completed the permanent signing of Nigeria international Terem Moffi from Nice, handing the striker the No. 9 shirt as the club prepares for its return to the Bundesliga. The 27-year-old has signed a three-year contract running until 2029 after more than three years on Nice’s books, including a loan spell at Porto during the second half of last season. Hamburg’s board member for sport, Kathleen Krüger, described Moffi as an “excellent fit” and said the deal added depth, variability and quality at centre-forward.

Sporting director Claus Costa said Moffi’s physical strength, determination, movement into space, penalty-box ability and capacity to hold the ball suited the demands of German top-flight football. The signing gives Hamburg an experienced international forward as they rebuild their squad for life among Germany’s leading clubs. Moffi’s arrival should also provide another focal point for the attack and allow Hamburg greater flexibility in how they use their centre-forwards. The length of the agreement signals a commitment beyond immediate survival, with the club expecting his experience to benefit younger players as well as the team’s Bundesliga campaign.

João Palhinha has reportedly completed his medical checks ahead of a move from Bayern Munich to Benfica, according to Bavarian Football Works’ account of a report from Record Portugal. The midfielder was allowed to remain in Lisbon while the transfer progressed and is no longer expected to return to Munich. The move was described as imminent, with the final minor procedures still to be completed before an announcement. Palhinha joined Bayern after establishing himself as a defensive midfielder, but the reported departure would bring his time with the German champions to an early conclusion.

The transfer forms part of a wider reshaping of Bayern’s squad under sporting director Max Eberl, who has also been working on outgoing deals and loans involving other young players. A move to Benfica would return Palhinha to Portugal and provide Bayern with room to adjust their midfield options before the window closes. It would also leave the club needing to balance defensive security with its ambitions in the Bundesliga and Champions League. The report remains framed around the finalisation of the deal, while Benfica’s expected arrival would add a proven holding midfielder to their squad.

Konrad Laimer said Bayern Munich wanted to match and exceed last season’s standards before Friday’s Bundesliga opener against VfB Stuttgart. The Austria international acknowledged Stuttgart’s progress, describing them as a good team who had played effective football and enjoyed success in recent years. Bayern will host the fixture at the start of their title defence, with the match scheduled for 8.30pm CEST. Laimer’s comments came after coach Vincent Kompany identified the Champions League as a major objective, alongside the domestic trophies Bayern traditionally pursue.

The midfielder said Bayern wanted to win every title available and that the squad trained daily with that ambition. His remarks set a demanding target for a side entering the campaign under substantial expectations, particularly with the Champions League placed alongside the Bundesliga and domestic cups. Stuttgart represent a serious opening examination rather than a routine first fixture, having earned Laimer’s respect for their recent development. Bayern’s performance will also be assessed in the context of Musiala’s reported absence, leaving Kompany to begin the season without one of his most prominent attacking players.

The Bundesliga and Topps will introduce a Starting XI Debut Patch for the 2026/27 season, which begins on Friday when Bayern Munich host VfB Stuttgart. Every player making their first appearance in a Bundesliga starting line-up will wear the patch on their shirt during that career milestone. It will be awarded only once to each player and removed immediately after the match. The original game-worn patch will then be used in an exclusive, hand-signed Topps trading card, making each card a one-of-one collectible tied to the player’s first Bundesliga start.

The initiative creates a direct link between a player’s debut and the league’s official collecting programme, while giving clubs and supporters a new way to mark the emergence of young talent. It applies throughout the campaign rather than to a single launch fixture, so established players making their first Bundesliga start will also qualify. The scheme reflects the league’s effort to turn significant on-pitch milestones into lasting memorabilia. For players breaking into the starting line-up, the patch will provide a visible record of a moment that can otherwise pass quickly amid the demands of a full season.

Schalke will return to the Bundesliga after three seasons in the second division, with coach Miron Muslić setting an ambition beyond immediate survival. Speaking ahead of the new campaign, Muslić said the club needed to raise its level again after promotion and wanted to establish itself in the top flight. The revival has been strongly influenced by Bosnian connections, with Muslić and veteran striker Edin Džeko central to the project. Schalke won the Bundesliga 2 title last season to secure their return to Germany’s highest division.

Muslić said his players had already responded when asked to improve by two gears a year earlier, but now faced the same demand at a higher level. The challenge will be to convert the momentum of promotion into sustained Bundesliga competitiveness, particularly after a period in which the club became associated with repeated coaching changes and instability. Džeko’s experience, reinforced by his two-goal cup performance against Hallescher, gives Schalke a focal point, while Muslić’s task is to build a team capable of surviving the step up and establishing a longer-term platform.