Cole Palmer was the bright spot in an otherwise difficult night for Chelsea, as the Blues fell 3-1 to Bayern Munich in their Champions League group stage opener. The young England star reminded fans of his talent with a spectacular goal that momentarily lifted spirits.
His precise strike not only cut the deficit but also brought him a personal achievement—his 45th Chelsea goal on his 100th club appearance. However, his late effort that could have offered hope was ruled out for offside.
The game at the Allianz Arena began poorly for Enzo Maresca’s men. Trevoh Chalobah accidentally put the ball into his own net after being pressured by Michael Olise’s dangerous cross, handing Bayern the lead early on.
Things quickly worsened when Harry Kane converted a penalty, following Moises Caicedo’s reckless challenge on the England captain.
Just as Chelsea looked in real danger, Palmer struck back with a brilliant top-corner finish from a counterattack around the half-hour mark, reviving belief within the team.
But despite that lifeline, Chelsea couldn’t sustain their momentum. Bayern’s superior control and composure told in the second half, especially when Kane capitalized on a sloppy pass from Malo Gusto, calmly finishing his second of the night to wrap up the win for the German champions.
Individually, Chelsea’s display was a mixed bag. Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez produced a vital save to deny Olise, while Marc Cucurella’s relentless effort stood out despite the hostility from the crowd.
, though guilty of conceding the penalty, worked tirelessly in midfield. Yet others underwhelmed—Pedro Neto couldn’t make use of the spaces afforded to him, and Enzo Fernandez struggled to leave any real impact.
After the match, Maresca voiced frustration at his team’s inability to keep the ball and the costly lapses in focus that led to Bayern’s goals. Still, he could take heart from some positives—most notably the energy of his younger players and Palmer’s growing influence as a leader in attack.
With five Champions League debutants in the lineup, Chelsea offered flashes of promise, particularly down the right flank where Gusto often found room to push forward. While the scoreline was disappointing, there are encouraging signs for the club as they push forward in Europe.
Chelsea’s next test comes in two weeks with a must-win home clash against Benfica. To keep their qualification hopes alive, improvements in ball retention and concentration will be key.
If Maresca can address those weaknesses while building on Palmer’s creativity and clinical edge, Chelsea still have a strong chance of making their presence felt in the tournament.
