Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich avoided a major upset in the defence of their DFB-Pokal title after coming from behind to beat second-tier Osnabruck 4-1.
Robin Meissner’s wonder goal after just five minutes shocked the visitors but Harry Kane‘s first goal of the season got Vincent Kompany‘s side back on track before Tom Bischof, Michael Olise and Kane again, from the penalty spot, ensured safe passage into the second round.
Kompany gave their hosts, newly-returned to 2. Bundesliga after two seasons in the third tier, plenty of respect by naming six players who started the weekend’s 5-1 hammering of Stuttgart, which included the likes of Kane, Olise, Luis Díaz and Joshua Kimmich.
The spotlight was immediately drawn to one of the players who came in, Jonathan Tah, but for the wrong reasons.
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The centre-back failed to deal with a routine clearance, ending up on the floor, allowing Meissner to out-jump Kim Min-Jae.
INA FASSBENDER / AFP via Getty Images
However, what came next owed nothing to a Bayern error and everything to the quality of Meissner’s right foot which, as the ball dropped, dispatched a spectacular volley into the top corner from 30 yards.
It was the wake-up call the visitors needed and it took them only 13 minutes to equalise.
Kimmich’s perfectly-weighted chip over the top saw Kane run between the two centre-backs, flick the ball up with his head before letting it fall to fire home a low volley.
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That settled any anxiety and the goal which put them ahead was all about pressing and precision.
Bischof won the ball inside the hosts’ half and quickly moved it inside to Olise. He threaded a pass through the last line of defence on the 18-yard line to pick out Díaz for a first-time shot.
Goalkeeper Jonas Krumrey could only parry the ball back into the danger area and Bischof, who had continued his run, was first to the loose ball and drilled in an angled shot.
Read more:Bayern 5-1 Stuttgart (Aug 28, 2026) Game Analysis – ESPN
Olise ensured there would be no late drama with the third in the 73rd minute.
Osnabruck defender Robin Fabinski’s weak attempt to clear the ball with a sliding challenge saw Olise nick the ball off his toes before producing an impudent dink past the advancing Krumrey.
The goalkeeper guessed the right way for Kane’s late spot-kick but the England captain had placed his effort perfectly just inside his left-hand post.
