Can Osnabrück withstand the holders? Prediction for Osnabrück vs Bayern Munich - 02.09.2026
Osnabrueck
The first round of the 2026/27 DFB-Pokal concludes on Wednesday, September 2, when VfL Osnabrück welcome Bayern Munich to a sold-out Bremer Brücke. The newly promoted 2. Bundesliga side face the toughest possible opponent: Bayern are the defending cup holders, having beaten Stuttgart 3-0 in last season's final to lift the trophy for a record 21st time. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:45 CEST.
Osnabrück finally find defensive stability
Timo Schultz's side have experienced almost every emotion possible in the opening weeks of their return to the 2. Bundesliga. Osnabrück began with a wild 4-3 defeat away to Heidenheim and were then beaten 3-0 at home by Magdeburg. Seven goals conceded across two matches highlighted the difficulty of adapting to the higher level.
Their response, however, was impressive. On Friday, Osnabrück claimed their first points of the season with a 1-0 victory away to Bochum. Ismail Badjie scored after only four minutes, while the visitors spent long periods defending deep and protecting the lead. Adrian Beck, making his first start after joining from Heidenheim, also caused problems, hitting the inside of the post and later seeing a goal ruled out for a marginal offside.
That performance provides a clear blueprint for the Bayern game. Schultz is unlikely to ask his team to compete for possession with the German champions. A compact defensive block, aggressive challenges in midfield and fast transitions through Badjie and Beck offer a much more realistic route to creating problems.
The personnel situation has also improved. Before the Bochum match, Schultz was able to work with essentially his entire squad after Jonathan Wensing returned to full team training, while newcomers Daniel Kofi Kyereh and Beck were available. David Kopacz, meanwhile, has now left the club for Hansa Rostock.
Bayern are already operating at a frightening tempo
Vincent Kompany's team have needed very little time to rediscover their rhythm. Bayern began the competitive season by beating Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup before opening their Bundesliga title defence with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Stuttgart.
The Stuttgart match was particularly revealing. Bayern were only 1-0 ahead at half-time and briefly allowed their opponents to equalise after the break, but there was no panic. Michael Olise immediately restored the lead before Stuttgart scored an own goal, and late strikes from Aleksandar Pavlović and Luis Díaz turned a competitive contest into a rout.
That ability to keep increasing the pressure is particularly dangerous for a lower-division opponent. Even if Osnabrück remain compact for 30 or 40 minutes, maintaining that defensive intensity against Bayern's movement, counter-pressing and attacking depth for an entire match is a completely different challenge.
Bayern also have options if Kompany chooses to make changes. Ismael Saibari made an impact from the bench against Stuttgart by creating two late goals, while Lennart Karl returned from injury and received minutes. Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry missed the league opener, so their availability remains one of the personnel questions ahead of the trip to Osnabrück.
Match facts and head-to-heads
- Osnabrück conceded seven goals in their first two league matches before keeping a clean sheet against Bochum.
- Bayern have won their first two competitive matches of the new season, scoring seven goals.
- Bayern are the defending DFB-Pokal champions and record 21-time winners.
- The clubs have met three times previously, all in the DFB-Pokal: Osnabrück famously won 5-4 in Munich in 1978, while Bayern won 2-0 in 2001 and 3-2 in 2004.
Osnabrück can resist early, but Bayern's depth should turn the match into a rout
The atmosphere at the Bremer Brücke should ensure that Bayern do not get a comfortable opening. Osnabrück have just produced their best defensive performance of the season, and the historic 1978 cup upset gives the hosts another story to feed on.
But the current difference in quality is enormous. Osnabrück's clean sheet in Bochum came after conceding seven goals in their first two league games, while Bayern have already shown how quickly they can transform a balanced match into a one-sided contest. Kompany's side have pace on both wings, creativity between the lines and enough depth to maintain the same intensity after substitutions.
Osnabrück may survive the opening phase through discipline and emotion, but once spaces begin to appear, Bayern should create chances in waves. I expect the holders to progress comfortably and eventually win by at least three goals.
Prediction: Bayern Munich (-2.5) handicap.
