Harry Kane struck twice to sink Chelsea as Bayern Munich earned a 3-1 win at the Allianz Arena, spoiling the Blues’ long-awaited Champions League return.
Enzo Maresca’s men, back in Europe’s elite competition for the first time in nearly two and a half years, showed plenty of ambition and attacking intent.
They even edged the early exchanges before two quick Bayern goals flipped the script, Trevoh Chalobah inadvertently turning Serge Gnabry’s cross into his own net before Kane calmly converted a penalty after Moisés Caicedo’s clumsy challenge.
Chelsea’s response was immediate and emphatic. Within two minutes, Cole Palmer darted through acres of space, combined neatly with Malo Gusto, and lashed a superb strike into the top corner to cap an entertaining first half.
The visitors’ youthful energy and fearless pressing made them a constant nuisance, with Palmer unsettling Bayern’s backline and Enzo Fernández thriving higher up the pitch. But their inexperience ultimately showed.
Just after the hour mark, Kane restored Bayern’s two-goal cushion, bending in a precise finish from Gnabry’s clever feed.
Goalkeeper Robert Sánchez kept Chelsea in it with two excellent stops, including a sensational one-handed save from Michael Olise, yet he could do little about Kane’s clinical strike.
For Maresca, the night was a reminder of how far his squad has come in just over a year, rising from Conference League playoff football to testing Europe’s most seasoned sides.
Chelsea’s fearless approach suggested they belong on this stage again, but their sharp learning curve continues.
