The 2025-26 UEFA Champions League Opening Match between Bayern Munich vs Chelsea will be scheduled on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at 21:00 CEST at the Allianz Arena in Munich. After winning the 13th September Bundesliga match over Hamburger SV by 5-0, Bayern Munich will be looking for its first victory in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League.
Bayern Munich welcome Chelsea to Allianz Arena, Munich, in their opening match of the league phase. It’s a historic rematch, the two clubs previously met at this very venue in the 2012 Champions League final, where Chelsea famously won on penalties to claim their first European Cup. Both teams enter with high expectations.
Bayern, under new manager Vincent Kompany, aim to bounce back from last season’s quarter-final exit, while Chelsea returns to the Champions League after a season away, having won the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025.
Bayern Munich have started the season in sensational form, winning all four matches with an incredible 17 goals scored and just 2 conceded. Their latest performance was a dominant 5-0 victory over Hamburg, with Harry Kane continuing his prolific form with 5 goals in 3 Bundesliga matches.
After winning the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup title, Chelsea have had a mixed start to their Premier League campaign, currently sitting 5th with 2 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss. However, they showed promise in their recent 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace, with Cole Palmer scoring a spectacular equalizer.
2025 UEFA Champions League opening match: Bayern Munich vs Chelsea
Table of Contents
| Date | Teams | Predicted Score | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 17, 2025 21:00 CEST | Bayern Munich vs Chelsea | 3-1 | Allianz Arena, Munich, capacity- 75,000 |
Bayern Munich vs Chelsea 2025-26 UEFA Champions League Starting XI
- Bayern Munich Possible Starting XI Prediction (4-2-3-1):
- GK: Manuel Neuer
- Defenders: Josip Stanisic, Dayot Upamecano, Jonathan Tah, Sacha Boey
- Midfield: Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlovic
- Attacking Mid/Forwards: Michael Olise, Tom Bischof, Luis Díaz
- Striker: Harry Kane
- Chelsea Possible Starting XI Prediction (4-2-3-1):
- GK: Robert Sánchez
- Defenders: Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Cucurella
- Midfield: Enzo Fernández, Moisés Caicedo
- Attacking Mid/Forwards: Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, João Pedro
- Striker: Liam Delap
Bayern Munich vs Chelsea UCL Match Information
Key Players to Watch:
- For Bayern Munich, Harry Kane leads the line with 5 goals in 3 matches this season, while Michael Olise has made an immediate impact with 3 goals and 1 assist in 3 appearances. Luis Díaz, the new signing from Liverpool, brings pace and creativity from the left wing.
- For Chelsea, Cole Palmer has been the standout performer with crucial goals, while João Pedro offers versatility with 2 goals and 3 assists in 4 matches. Enzo Fernández provides creativity from midfield with 2 goals and 1 assist already this season.
Match Prediction
Bayern Munich’s perfect start to the season and their dominant head-to-head record against Chelsea makes them strong favorites. With Kane’s prolific goalscoring form and the attacking threat of Olise and Díaz, Bayern possess the firepower to trouble Chelsea’s defense.
However, Chelsea’s individual quality, particularly from Palmer and João Pedro, could provide moments of magic. Expect a high-scoring encounter at the Allianz Arena, but Bayern’s home advantage and superior current form should see them secure a 3-1 victory.
- Match Score: Bayern Munich 3–1 Chelsea
Head-to-Head & Tactical Analysis
Bayern Munich hold a commanding advantage in this fixture, having won 4 of their last 5 meetings across all competitions. The only exception was Chelsea’s dramatic penalty shootout victory in the 2012 Champions League final at this very venue. Since that historic night, Bayern have won 4 consecutive encounters, including a comprehensive 7-1 aggregate victory in the 2019-20 Champions League Round of 16.
The overall head-to-head record shows Bayern’s dominance: in 7 competitive meetings, Bayern have won 4 times, drawn 2, and lost just once. Bayern have scored 18 goals compared to Chelsea’s 12 across these fixtures.
The German giants also boast an exceptional record on Champions League Matchday 1, winning 21 consecutive opening matches in the competition.
| Team | Matches Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Total Goals Scored | Total Goals Conceded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayern Munich | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 12 |
| Chelsea | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 18 |
Tactical Insights
- Bayern’s Matchday 1 dominance: The Bavarians have an unparalleled record of 21 consecutive wins on the opening matchday of the Champions League, scoring 60 goals while conceding just 7.
- Chelsea’s recent struggles: The Blues have won only 1 of their last 4 Champions League opening fixtures and suffered a 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in their most recent Matchday 1 encounter.
Last 5 Match Performance
| Team | Form (Last 5 Games) | Wins | Draws | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayern Munich | W-W-W-W-W | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Chelsea | D-W-L-W-W | 3 | 1 | 1 |
How to watch the Bayern Munich vs Chelsea Champions League match, and Live Score?
The 2025-26 UEFA Champions League Bayern Munich vs Chelsea will be broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports 2 HD, with streaming available on discovery+ and the TNT Sports app. Coverage begins at 7:00 pm BST.
Fans around the world can follow the action through official broadcasters in their respective regions. You can follow the match coverage on the official site of UEFA or TNT Sports.
The kick-off is set for 17 September 2025. In the UK, it will be at 8:00 pm BST, and in Germany, at 9:00 pm CEST. For viewers in the US, this typically translates to 3:00 pm ET and 12:00 pm PT. In India, the match will kick off at 12:30 am IST on Thursday, September 18.
| Country | TV Channel | Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| USA | CBS Sports | Paramount+, CBS Sports App |
| Canada | — | DAZN |
| UK | TNT Sports 2 | discovery+, TNT Sports App |
| Australia | — | Stan Sport |
| India | Sony TEN 2 | Sony LIV, JioTV |
