Youthful Bayern loses friendly to third-tier team
Bayern Munich began its pre-season preparations with a loss to Wehen Wiesbaden, but Tom Bischof was not looking too deep into the result.
In what was Bayern's first match since its DFB-Pokal success against Stuttgart on 24 May (AEST), Vincent Kompany's youthful side was beaten 2-1 by its third-tier opponent.
With many of Bayern's first-team squad still absent because of its World Cup commitments, Kompany was forced to field a starting line-up with an average age of just 17.6 years.
Ibrahim Ati Allah put Wehen into a 10th-minute lead when his shot squirmed under David Podar-Stiube before Kompany chose to make three changes in the 25th minute.
The Bundesliga champion was level just before the hour through Bischof, who tucked away a penalty after Tim Binder was fouled inside the area by Justin Janitzek.
However, Lukas Schleimer sealed the win for Wehen eight minutes from time, and there was little to split the two teams.
Bischof, along with Joao Palhinha and Sacha Boey, were among the more experienced players in Bayern's squad, but the midfielder was not too downbeat by the result.
"We controlled the game for long periods. We maybe lacked a bit of movement, which is normal after just one week of training," Bischof said.
"It's a shame we ended up losing. We could've won it. The boys did well on the whole.
"It was definitely clear to me that I'd take it [the penalty]. I've practised a lot of penalties lately, felt good and am pleased it worked out."
It was just the second meeting between the two sides in history, after Wehen pushed Bayern the distance in the first round of the DFB-Pokal in 2025-2026.
Michael Olise and Harry Kane had given the Bundesliga giant a comfortable lead, only for two goals in six minutes in the second half from Fatih Kaya to level the score.
The match appeared set for extra-time, but Kane scored a 94th-minute winner to seal a 3-2 win.
"I'm happy we're back again. We still don't have any players here who were at the [FIFA] World Cup, but it's an opportunity for the other players," Kompany said before kick-off.
"Wiesbaden made things tough for us in the cup last season, so it's a good test for the young players."
Bayern has further friendlies against FC Rottach-Egern, Jeju SK FC, Aston Villa and RB Leipzig to come, before playing the latter again in the Telekom Cup.
It then takes on Borussia Dortmund in the DFL-Supercip final on 23 August (AEST) and kicks off its Bundesliga season against Stuttgart six days later.
