Champions League: Bayern and Chelsea to Meet in Munich

Bayern Munich vs Chelsea

Champions League football takes centre stage this week as round one of Europe’s flagship competition kicks off, and there’s an eye-catching clash in Bavaria where Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich takes on Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea at the Allianz Arena.  

After Paris Saint-Germain gate-crashed the European elite in spectacular fashion last season, beating Inter Milan 5-0 in the 2024/25 final, the elder statesmen have been plotting their revenge. And that group includes both Bayern, winners in 2020, and Chelsea, who won their second Champions League title the following year. 

And, of course, the Blues gave PSG a bloody nose during the summer when they beat the Parisiens 3-0 in the lucrative Club World Cup final in July. 

Both teams have made a strong start to their domestic campaigns. Bayern are top of the German league after making it three wins from three with a storming 5-0 victory over Hamburg at the weekend; meanwhile, Chelsea drew 2-2 with Brentford, a result which left the Blues in fifth place on eight points.    

The current Champions League 2025 betting odds place both these teams as quarter-finalists in a wide-open competition; and they will both want to make a strong start. 

 

Talking Points

Bayern’s Lethal Attack 

In their most recent outing Kompany’s men were 4-0 up within half an hour as goals from Serge Gnabry, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Luis Diaz and Harry Kane blew the visitors away; and by the time Kane added a second on the hour the manager had already brought off Dayot Upamecano and Gnabry in anticipation of Wednesday’s clash with Chelsea, and both Kane and Diaz followed soon after.   

The Bavarians have gone big in the transfer market again, bringing in Diaz from Liverpool late in the window and, alongside Michael Olise, Gnabry and Kane, the Colombian winger has made it at least one goal involvement per game as Bayern racked up 14 goals in three games. Kompany’s team is well settled already and I expect Pavlovic to continue in midfield, in preference to Leon Goretzka, while the Blues will be paying close attention to the former Premier League trio of Kane, Diaz and Olise.       

 

Palmer is so crucial for Chelsea 

The Blues conceded a late leveller in their weekend clash with Brentford and that was an unwelcome blow to Chelsea’s momentum, particularly as there was some question as to whether the Bees’ leveller should have been allowed. But the most telling moment of the game was the introduction of midfield ace Cole Palmer on 56 minutes, at a time when Brentford were 1-0 up. He equalised just five minutes after he climbed off the bench, but it was the effect that Palmer had on his team-mates that was most impressive. His positive approach and energy seemed to unlock the potential of the team and it was no surprise when Moises Caicedo scored late in the game to give the Blues a late lead, which they failed to hold on to. Palmer had hardly touched the ball before he scored but his off-the-ball running opened up space for Chelsea’s creative unit and, while his goals and assists are crucial, Palmer gives the team so much more. 

Elsewhere in the Blues’ team, look out for former Borussia Dortmund star Jamie Bynoe Gittens who will be keen to spoil the Bavarians’ night, while striker Joao Pedro looks set to start. Alejandro Garnacho, signed from Manchester United, will hope to play some part but I expect he will start on the bench.            

 

History 

Bayern and Chelsea have met five times before in the Champions League and the Bavarians have had plenty of success, winning three to Chelsea’s one; and there has been one draw. On the last occasion Bayern had a 4-1 win in the 2020 Round of 16, 7-1 on aggregate, as Robert Lewandowski destroyed the Londoners, managed at the time by Chelsea playing legend Frank Lampard. 

In terms of recent form, both teams are flying; Bayern have won their last six while the Blues have won four and drawn two over that period.      

 

Betting Tip

Bayern Munich are at SBOTOP odds of 1.62 to win this opening clash with the draw at 4.21 and an away win is at 4.75. The Bavarians are very strong and I expect the Champions League 2025 highlights will see the hosts take the game to their visitors but I think Chelsea, who have been improving steadily under Maresca, to put up a good fight; and Palmer, assuming he is fit, will be a big player for the Blues.  

   

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