Bayern Munich took full advantage of Chelsea’s defensive fragility to secure a 3-1 victory in their Champions League opener, with England captain Harry Kane scoring twice in a ruthless display at the Allianz Arena.
Kane, 32, was instrumental in Bayern’s clinical performance, winning and converting a first-half penalty after being brought down by Moises Caicedo. He later sealed the win in the 63rd minute with a composed curling effort after Malo Gusto’s errant pass – one of several costly Chelsea mistakes.
The visitors had started brightly, creating early chances through Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez, but they failed to capitalise. Their promising momentum unravelled when Trevoh Chalobah, under no immediate pressure, turned the ball into his own net following a lapse in concentration at a drop-ball situation.
Cole Palmer, making his 100th appearance in all competitions, offered Chelsea hope with a stunning top-corner finish to pull one back before halftime. However, the west London side’s bid to level the match faded amid mounting errors and missed opportunities.
There were warnings even after Palmer’s goal. Michael Olise squandered a golden opportunity, firing wide when well-placed, while Kane missed a header that could have ended the contest earlier. Chelsea, making their return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2022-23 season, looked determined but were ultimately outmanoeuvred.
The decisive moment came just past the hour mark when Gusto’s loose pass was intercepted, allowing Kane to curl in his second and Bayern’s third, effectively ending Chelsea’s resistance.
Chelsea did have the ball in the net again, with Palmer converting late on, but the goal was ruled out for a marginal offside. It summed up a frustrating night for Mauricio Pochettino’s men, who were outclassed by a battle-hardened Bayern outfit.
Bayern, who have now won their opening Champions League fixture for a remarkable 22nd straight season, showed the benefits of experience. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer marked his 151st Champions League appearance, while Chelsea’s entire 24-man squad had only accumulated 117 combined appearances before kickoff.
Former Blue Nicolas Jackson, who joined Bayern on loan on deadline day, came on in stoppage time but had little time to make an impact.
Chelsea will now look to regroup ahead of their next Champions League clash at home against Benfica, a fixture that could mark the dramatic return of Jose Mourinho to Stamford Bridge, with the Portuguese expected to be announced as manager later this week.
