Two-time European champions Chelsea are again on the prime desk after a two-year absence.
Chelsea will function within the Champions League for the primary time for the reason that 2022-23 marketing campaign, and their first match again is towards heavyweights Bayern Munich.
A visit to Munich – the scene of one among their most well-known nights – welcomes them again into the Champions League fold, and the Blues are going up towards a workforce bang in type.
Vincent Kompany’s Bayern have been runaway Bundesliga champions final season, they usually have began this season in fashion, scoring 14 targets of their three league matches and taking most factors.
They routed Hamburger SV on Saturday, whereas Chelsea have been pegged again to a 2-2 draw by Brentford.
Wednesday’s conflict is an intriguing prospect, with two groups who like to get on the entrance foot positive to serve up leisure. Right here, we delve into the important thing Opta statistics.
What’s anticipated?
Bayern have gained three of their final 4 video games towards Chelsea within the Champions League (D1, misplaced on penalties within the remaining in 2012), together with profitable each legs towards them within the 2019-20 final 16, of their most up-to-date conferences (3-0 away and 4-1 at dwelling).
Chelsea have misplaced 60% of their video games towards Bayern within the European Cup/Champions League (W1 D1 L3).
That’s their highest loss share towards any facet they’ve confronted on no less than 5 events in Europe’s premier membership competitors.
Certainly, solely Barcelona (4) have extra wins towards the Blues than Bayern (three) within the European Cup/Champions League.
The Opta supercomputer has run 10,000 data-led simulations, and Bayern got here out victorious in 54.9% of them.
Chelsea are handed only a 23% win likelihood, whereas the probability of a draw is 22.1%.
In the case of the general match predictions, the mannequin truly provides Chelsea a better likelihood of changing into European champions than Bayern, with the Blues’ probabilities ranked at 7% and Bayern’s at 5%.
Bayern have scored extra targets this time period than every other workforce in Europe’s prime 5 leagues, outperforming their 8.6 anticipated targets (xG), which ranks joint-third, together with Actual Madrid.
They’re the one Bundesliga workforce with a 100% document in 2025-26, so Chelsea’s defence – which has not appeared notably strong this time period – may have their work lower out.
Bayern’s league-phase experience
Bayern have been knocked out by eventual runners-up Internazionale within the final 16 of final season’s Champions League, and it’s honest to say Kompany’s workforce didn’t all the time persuade in Europe.
They suffered defeats to Aston Villa, Barcelona and Feyenoord within the league section, and needed to scrape previous Celtic in a knockout stage play-off.
Nevertheless, since 2003-04, when the second group stage was eliminated, Bayern have the best win share within the group/league section of the Champions League (73%), profitable 93 of their 128 matches earlier than the knockout phases.
Bayern even have an awesome current document towards English groups within the competitors.
They’ve solely misplaced one among their final 11 dwelling video games towards English sides within the Champions League (W8 D2), with that defeat coming towards Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in March 2019 (3-1).
Bayern have overwhelmed 5 totally different English sides on this run, together with Chelsea (W3 v Arsenal, W1 v Manchester Metropolis, W2 v Manchester United and W1 v Tottenham).
Star ahead Harry Kane continues to thrive for Bayern, and he shall be out to do the harm towards a workforce he has truly solely scored towards eight occasions, in 22 earlier conferences.
Kane has began this season brilliantly, already netting 11 targets throughout all competitions (together with the Membership World Cup), outperforming his 5.3 anticipated targets (xG) by a long way within the course of.
Feeding Kane would be the likes of Michael Olise, Serge Gnabry and Joshua Kimmich.
Gnabry has already offered 4 assists this season, main Bayern together with Kane, whereas Olise, who as soon as appeared on the verge of a switch to Chelsea throughout his Crystal Palace days, is on three. Kimmich, in the meantime, has arrange two targets from a team-high 4.3 anticipated assists (xA) and 28 probabilities created.
Throughout the final three seasons (since 2022-23), Kimmich leads all gamers within the Champions League for each accomplished passes (2,525) and probabilities created (83). Final season, he was the top-ranked participant within the competitors for line-breaking passes (219).
Then there’s Nicolas Jackson, who has joined Bayern on mortgage from Chelsea and will nicely function towards his mum or dad membership, albeit any look would seemingly be restricted to a cameo from the bench.
Blues again the place they belong
Since their final match within the Champions League in April 2023, the Blues have gained 12 of their 13 European matches (excluding qualifiers).
That run, after all, contains Chelsea’s run to Convention League glory final season, whereas we must always not neglect that Enzo Maresca’s workforce additionally triumphed on the Membership World Cup this summer season, thumping reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain within the remaining.
It has been a so-so begin to the Premier League marketing campaign for Chelsea.
They’ve gained twice and drawn twice, although the style of their draw towards Brentford on Saturday – when Fabio Carvalho equalised in stoppage time – may have stung.
Chelsea have scored 9 occasions already within the Premier League, although, which leads the division together with Arsenal and Liverpool.
So going ahead, there are many causes for Maresca to be assured, particularly given the return of Cole Palmer from harm.
Estevao is one other thrilling expertise. He missed the Brentford recreation as a result of sickness, however ought to he make his Champions League debut on Wednesday, he would achieve this on the age of simply 18 years and 46 days.
Previous to the 2025-26 marketing campaign, solely three South American gamers had scored within the competitors whereas aged youthful than that – Endrick in 2024 (18y 58d), Roque Santa Cruz in 1999 (18y 71d) and Lionel Messi in 2005 (18y 131d).
Chelsea are again in #UCL motion this week! pic.twitter.com/vGGSeGD3y0
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 15, 2025
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Bayern Munich – Manuel Neuer
Neuer is presently sitting on 99 wins within the competitors. Solely three gamers have gained 100 Champions League matches – Cristiano Ronaldo (115), Thomas Muller (111) and Iker Casillas (101).
The veteran campaigner (60) has saved essentially the most clear sheets and made essentially the most saves (413) of any goalkeeper in Champions League historical past.
At 74.7%, Neuer has the fourth-best save share of any goalkeeper to make 50+ Champions League appearances, and the very best save share of any lively goalkeeper to make 50+ Champions League appearances.
And will he function, as anticipated, then he would equal Toni Kroos on 151 Champions League video games.
Solely former Bayern stalwart Muller (163) has performed extra occasions within the competitors amongst German gamers.
Chelsea – Cole Palmer
Palmer’s return to health has offered a well timed enhance for Maresca.
The playmaker scored simply 5 minutes after his introduction from the bench towards Brentford. It was his first open-play aim within the Premier League since January, and he additionally had a game-leading 5 pictures regardless of approaching within the 56th minute.
Palmer has been straight concerned in eight targets in his final eight membership video games in worldwide competitions (three targets, 5 assists), three of which got here in his final such look within the Membership World Cup remaining towards PSG (two targets, one help).
The 23-year-old has now scored 50 membership targets, with 44 of these coming for Chelsea and 6 for Manchester Metropolis.
