The Bundesliga giants, who have struggled in recent cup campaigns, faced a stern test from the third-tier side but secured the win thanks to a stoppage-time header from Harry Kane.
Bayern, 20-time DFB-Pokal champions, took control early. Just 10 seconds in, Luis Diaz, fresh off goals in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup and Bundesliga opener, nearly broke the deadlock but was denied by Wiesbaden's goalkeeper Florian Stritzel. "We came out with intensity, but they were ready for us," Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said after the match, acknowledging the hosts' resilience.
The breakthrough came in the 16th minute when Kane calmly converted a penalty after Ryan Johansson fouled Sacha Boey in the box. Earlier, a controversial moment saw Wiesbaden's Jordy Gillekens escape punishment for handling the ball twice in the area, with referee Daniel Siebert awarding a free-kick instead. Without VAR in the first round, decisions were final, adding tension to the tie.
Wiesbaden, despite their underdog status, fought back with purpose. Captain Fatih Kaya tested Bayern's defense, but Min-jae Kim's block and a poor follow-up from Nikolas Agrafiotis kept the score at 1-0. Stritzel shone again, denying Diaz and Raphael Guerreiro with superb saves to keep his side in the contest at halftime.
After the break, Bayern doubled their lead through Michael Olise, who powered home a left-footed strike in the 51st minute following slick interplay. "We thought we had it under control," Kompany admitted, but Wiesbaden had other ideas.
Kaya sparked a remarkable comeback, scoring twice in six minutes. His first, a stunning finish from Niklas May's cross in the 64th minute, ignited the home crowd. His second, a composed effort in the 70th minute, leveled the score at 2-2, exposing Bayern's defensive frailties.
The hosts' momentum continued as Stritzel emerged as the hero, saving Kane's second penalty in the 76th minute and denying follow-up efforts from both Kane and Serge Gnabry. "Florian gave us a chance to dream," Wiesbaden coach Nils Döring said, praising his goalkeeper's heroics.
Despite Bayern's dominance, with Diaz missing a one-on-one and Olise being thwarted again, the game seemed destined for extra time.
However, Kane redeemed himself in the 94th minute, heading in a pinpoint cross from Josip Stanišić to secure a 3-2 win. "It was a tough night, but we showed character," Kane told reporters post-match, reflecting on his missed penalty and late winner.
For Bayern, the win keeps their hopes alive for a 21st DFB-Pokal title, though Kompany warned, "We need to be sharper defensively if we're to go far."
The second-round draw awaits on Sunday, with Bayern among the 31 teams advancing, while Werder Bremen were the only Bundesliga side to fall in the first round.
Newcastle United have reportedly sealed a blockbuster club-record deal to bring in Stuttgart forward Nick Woltemade, outmaneuvering Bayern Munich in a dramatic late-summer transfer twist.
Chelsea have put the brakes on Nicolas Jackson's proposed loan to Bayern Munich, holding out for clarity on Alexander Isak's future amid swirling interest from Liverpool.
Tottenham Hotspur have ramped up their pursuit of RB Leipzig's Xavi Simons, with the Dutch international now in London for talks that could derail Chelsea's long-standing interest in the versatile attacker.
Arsenal are racing against time to secure Bayer Leverkusen's talented defender Piero Hincapie before the transfer window slams shut on September 1.
