Bayern Munich [ Images ] needed a stoppage-time winner from Bastian Schweinsteiger to beat VfL Wolfsburg 2-1 and successfully kick off their Bundesliga title defence on Friday.

Bayern were the livelier side early on, despite missing injured winger Arjen Robben [ Images ] and Ivica Olic, with Franck Ribery [ Images ] in superb form.

World Cup joint-top scorer Thomas Mueller [ Images ] fired the hosts into the lead in the ninth minute after combining beautifully with Toni Kroos.

Last season's Bundesliga top scorer Edin Dzeko grabbed a deserved 55th minute equaliser for Wolfsburg when he headed in a Zvjezdan Misimovic corner to give fired-up former England [ Images ] coach Steve McClaren a reason to smile on his Bundesliga debut.

But Bayern hit back deep into added time when an unmarked Schweinsteiger tapped in a Ribery cross at the far post.

Schalke 04, runners-up last season, take on Hamburg SV on Saturday while Werder Bremen [ Images ], who finished third, visit Hoffenheim.