Bayern Munich have begun their Bundesliga title defence with a slender 2-1 win at home over Wolfsburg tonight.
Former Bayern striker Ivica Olic replied for Wolfsburg after Thomas Muller and Arjen Robben had given the champions a two-goal lead, but Pep Guardiola's side hung on to begin their season with three points.
Guardiola included four World Cup-winning Germans in his lineup, but was also forced to start 17-year-old midfielder Gianluca Gaudino, with Bastian Schweinsteiger and Javi Martinez injured.
The teenager created an opening on 30 minutes when he lifted the ball over the top for summer signing Robert Lewandowski to volley on the stretch, with Max Grun turning the shot around his post.
The Wolfsburg keeper had earlier denied Lewandowski in a one-on-one situation, but was beaten on 37 minutes when Robben dribbled to the byline before squaring for Muller to convert from close range.
It took just two minutes of the second period for Bayern to increase their lead as Robben added his own name to the scoresheet by finishing off a quick break which he started on the halfway line.
The visitors reduced the arrears on 52 minutes when Olic ran away from Holger Badstuber, who was making his first appearance since December 2012, before chipping Manuel Neuer from the edge of the box.
Junior Malanda should have equalised 10 minutes from time, but the Wolfsburg substitute somehow sliced wide from two yards after the rebound of Kevin De Bruyne's shot fell at his feet.
Munich nearly made the final few minutes more comfortable when Sebastian Rode found the net, but his effort was ruled out for offside, with Muller adjudged to be interfering with play as he ran in front of the goalkeeper.
Joe Fish
