Bayern vs Lyon – A Pre‑Season Snapshot & What’s Next

Bayern – Lyon friendly recap: first look at Kompany’s squad after the Club World Cup. Injury news (Musiala, Pavlović), new arrival Díaz, 0-0 first half analysis, and US broadcast info.

Bayern last faced Lyon in the 2019/20 Champions League semi-finals. | © Getty

Bayern – Lyon Pre-Season Opener at the Allianz Arena

It’s a crisp Bavarian evening at the Allianz Arena as Bayern Munich hosts Lyon in their first friendly of the season. The match kicked off on August 2, 2025 at 3:30 PM CEST (9:30 AM EDT). This is the first live look at Vincent Kompany’s Bayern – Lyon lineup since the Club World Cup loss to PSG. Bayern, bruised by that 2‑0 defeat, lost talisman Jamal Musiala to a serious ankle injury against PSG. Today’s opener is a chance for them to bounce back in front of a half-full crowd, with American fans tuning in early from home.

Bayern – Lyon Squad News: Injuries & New Faces

The Bayern – Lyon friendly lineup was shaped by recent setbacks. Jamal Musiala is still out after fracturing his fibula (and dislocating his ankle) against PSG. Club officials say Musiala’s recovery is “on track,” aiming for a return before 2026, but he’ll miss this friendly and much of the autumn. Another young midfielder, Aleksandar Pavlović, suffered a broken eye socket in training and has been operated on. He’ll miss 3–4 weeks of action, ruling him out against Lyon. On the flip side, Bayern’s summer signing Luis Díaz from Liverpool is available and did make the bench here. Kompany now has a fresh option on the left wing. In midfield, debutants like Tom Bischof (23) will get minutes. As one preview notes: Díaz “will make his debut for the Bavarians today against Olympique Lyonnais (or just Lyon)”.

Bayern – Lyon First Half: Controlled but Goalless

By halftime the Bayern – Lyon scoreline read 0-0. Bayern controlled much of the first half but couldn’t break through. Statistically, they held slightly more possession (about 52.5% to Lyon’s 47.5%) and created some chances, but struggled to finish. Live reports noted that young players “Lennart Karl and Paul Wanner have been cooking” up front, and indeed both looked lively. Bayern paired defensive center-back Dayot Upamecano with the youngsters Paul Wanner and Tom Bischof in midfield, plus teen winger Lennart Karl. All put in promising shifts, even if the halftime sheet was blank. As one observer put it at the break: “Karl and Wanner looked good” for Bayern. Lyon, coached by Fabio Grosso, also tested Bayern’s back line on occasion; former Bayern man Corentin Tolisso even had a shot from distance early on. Still, after 45 minutes it’s all square as the teams head to the locker rooms.

Lyon Context & Narrative: Former Rivals and Big Spenders

On paper, Lyon arrive as a stern test for Bayern – Lyon. Remember, the last time these clubs met in UEFA competition, it was the women’s Champions League. Bayern München Frauen were thumped 4-1 in Lyon (6-1 on aggregate) just a few months ago. Lyon’s women’s team is a powerhouse in Europe, so they know how to overwhelm big teams. The men’s side isn’t as dominant right now (they finished sixth in Ligue 1 last season), but they have quality. Notably, Lyon’s squad includes former Bayern midfielder Corentin Tolisso, who starred on Bayern’s treble team in 2020. In short, Lyon have pedigree. Even in a friendly they won’t roll over – they’re aiming to make a mark (and Lyon fans always take pride in beating a giant).

Off the pitch, Bayern’s boardroom has been busy too. There were rumors linking defender Kim Min-jae to a Saudi move, but Min-jae’s camp flatly denied any plans to leave. The club has also flirted with signings like Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Šeško to add depth up front. For now, Woltemade stays at Stuttgart (their CEO says “we want to go with Nick into the new season” unless “extraordinary” happens), and Šeško seems destined elsewhere – he’d cost a huge fee and already has Premier League interest. Still, with Harry Kane’s contract talk ongoing, questions about a future Bayern – Lyon rematch in the transfer market are in the air.

U.S. Viewers’ Guide: Time, Streaming, Talking Points

American fans don’t have to be left behind waking up early for Bayern – Lyon. This match was broadcast on ESPN’s platforms, meaning ESPN+ streamed it live. (ESPN UK also picks up Bundesliga content, so British viewers could watch.) The 9:30 AM EDT kick means it was a perfect early-morning Bundesliga test – just as the Bundesliga season build-up discussion was heating up in the US. The talking points are obvious: Musiala’s big injury, Díaz’s arrival, and Bayern’s experimentation with youth. U.S. fans who caught the first 45 minutes saw a controlled Bayern performance, but also wondered if Kompany is already getting extra mileage out of the midfield and wing. In any case, streaming services make it easy for an American audience to follow these friendlies – from Bayern TV Plus (the club’s own stream) to ESPN+.

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What’s Next? Open-Ended Questions

There are plenty of questions after this Bayern – Lyon friendly: Will Luis Díaz’s early minutes hint at a tactical shift for Kompany? Could this match serve as an audition for youngsters like Wanner, Karl and Bischof to become regulars? On the veteran side, watching former Bayern player Tolisso trouble the defense raises another: How will Bayern balance experience and youth this season? And with Harry Kane’s future still under speculation, we can’t help but ask – is Benjamin Šeško the answer to Kane’s eventual successor? For now, it’s all live fuel for the summer conversation. One thing’s certain: for American viewers waking up to see Bayern face Lyon, this was far more than a meaningless friendly. It was our first real checkpoint for assessing Bayern’s bounce-back, Diaz’s impact, and the club’s depth (or lack thereof). We’ll see how Kompany answers these challenges as the season approaches.