According to a report from Sky Germany journalist Kerry Hau, Bayern Munich will have to continue without one of their most important attacking players for at least another week, with Musiala not expected to be ready for Saturday’s showdown against Borussia Dortmund.

There is, however, some encouraging news regarding his recovery. Musiala’s injury is healing well, and his rehabilitation is progressing positively. Nevertheless, the club is unwilling to take unnecessary risks with the 23-year-old, particularly given the importance of having him fully fit for the remainder of the season.

A return to the squad for Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Atlético Madrid is also considered unrealistic. While there is clearly progress being made, everyone involved is in agreement that Musiala needs to be brought back gradually rather than rushed into competitive action before he is completely ready.

That is an important consideration for Bayern. Musiala has already endured a difficult period with injuries, and the last thing Vincent Kompany, Aaron Danks, or the medical staff wants is another setback that could jeopardize his longer-term availability.

His absence is obviously a significant blow heading into two enormous fixtures. Musiala offers Bayern something few players can replicate: his ability to operate between the lines, eliminate defenders in tight spaces, create opportunities out of seemingly nothing, and unlock stubborn defensive blocks.

Against a defensively organized Dortmund side under Niko Kovač, those qualities would certainly have been useful. The same applies to the Atlético Madrid encounter, where Bayern could need every bit of creativity available to break down Diego Simeone’s side.

However, Bayern must take the bigger picture into account. Getting Musiala back for the long term is considerably more important than squeezing a premature appearance out of him for either fixture.

The good news is that his recovery is progressing well. Now it is about getting the timing right and ensuring Bayern’s number 10 can return without immediately having to worry about another injury setback.