Wehen Wiesbaden defeats Bayern Munich in pre-season friendly
Wiesbaden hosts Bayern for anniversary friendly
Wehen Wiesbaden secured a 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich in a pre-season friendly match, marking Wiesbaden’s 100th anniversary. The match saw a largely youthful Bayern side take on the third-division club. Over 12,000 spectators gathered at the BRITA-Arena to witness the encounter, which served as Bayern’s inaugural friendly of the 2026/27 pre-season.
Bayern’s starting lineup featured 11 teenagers, with an average age of 17.6 years. This youthful squad faced a determined Wiesbaden team, which tested Bayern’s defense early in the game. Bayern’s sporting director, Christoph Freund, noted during halftime that many of the young players were experiencing their first match against professional adult players. He expressed satisfaction with their performance, highlighting their ability to hold their own and create chances, viewing the experience as valuable for the developing players.
Match progression and key moments
Wehen Wiesbaden took an early lead with a goal from Ibrahim Ati Allah in the 10th minute, assisted by Flotho. The first half concluded with Bayern trailing by a single goal. Bayern coach Vincent Kompany had made it clear prior to the match that while the team lacked players who had participated in the World Cup, this friendly presented an opportunity for other players to demonstrate their capabilities. Kompany also acknowledged Wiesbaden as a strong test for his young squad, recalling a challenging encounter in the previous season’s DFB Cup.
In the second half, Bayern introduced several changes, including Tom Bischof, who appeared in his new No.8 shirt. Other players returning from loan spells, such as Sacha Boey, João Palhinha, and Arijon Ibrahimović, also joined the match, alongside Maycon Cardozo, who had been part of the senior squad in the previous season. Sven Ulreich captained the team during the second period. The introduced experience contributed to Bayern’s improved ball control and attacking presence.
The equalizer for Bayern came in the 57th minute when Tom Bischof successfully converted a penalty. The penalty was awarded after Tim Binder, one of Bayern’s young attackers, was fouled inside the box. Bischof expressed confidence in taking the penalty, stating he had practiced them extensively. However, Wehen Wiesbaden secured their winning goal in the 83rd minute. Lukas Schleimer capitalized on a rebound after Sven Ulreich was unable to hold onto a shot, sealing the 2-1 victory for the home side.
Looking ahead for Bayern
The friendly against Wehen Wiesbaden served as an initial step in Bayern’s pre-season preparations. The club’s players who participated in the World Cup are still on holiday and are expected to return gradually over the coming weeks. The first group of these players is scheduled to rejoin the squad on Monday, coinciding with the start of a training camp at Tegernsee. This camp will feature open training sessions on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Following the training camp, Bayern is set to play another friendly match against local side Rottach-Egern. The team will then embark on the Audi Summer Tour to Asia on Saturday. This pre-season schedule aims to integrate both the returning World Cup players and the promising young talents into the squad as they prepare for the upcoming season.
The match provided valuable experience for Bayern’s young players, many of whom are from the FC Bayern Campus and were given the opportunity to impress coach Vincent Kompany. Bischof reflected on the game, noting that despite controlling large portions, the team lacked some movement, which he attributed to only having completed one week of training. The friendly highlighted the ongoing development phase for the squad as they build towards the new season.
Source: bbc.co.uk
