Bayern Munich and Chelsea will be eager to continue their unbeaten start to the 2025/26 season when they face off at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.

Matchday 1 of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League continues on Wednesday. Like Tuesday, the action will start with two early games before ending with four simultaneous matches, including Bayern Munich vs Chelsea at the Allianz Arena.

Bayern Munich reached the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League by winning the Bundesliga title last season. The Bavarian giants have been hot off the blocks this term, lifting the DFL Supercup, reaching the second round of the DFB Pokal, and winning their first three Bundesliga games, the latest being a 5-0 victory over Hamburger SV this past weekend.

On the other hand, Chelsea qualified for the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League by finishing fourth in the Premier League last season. While the Blues have not been in their element from the get-go, they are one of only three Premier League teams yet to lose a game this term. However, Enzo Maresca will hope his charges are back to their best after Brentford held them to a 2-2 draw this past weekend.

Bayern Munich cruised to a 7-1 win on aggregate in the most recent tie with Chelsea, progressing from the round of 16 of the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics

Bayern Munich

Vincent Kompany has no new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Bayern Munich manager will be bereft of the services of three first-team players vs Chelsea on Wednesday.

Jamal Musiala is the most notable absentee, with the German international recovering from an ankle injury. The German international accompanies Raphael Guerreiro (stomach) and Alphonso Davies (knee) in the treatment room.

Manuel Neuer is an automatic pick between the sticks, and he will target his 100th win in the UEFA Champions League this week. Bayern Munich will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of Neuer vs Chelsea, with the backline featuring Konrad Laimer, Jonathan Tah, Dayot Upamecano, and Josip Stanisic.

As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka in the double pivot, with Aleksandar Pavlovic being a backup option on the bench. Finally, Harry Kane will lead the line for Bayern Munich against Chelsea, with Luis Diaz, Serge Gnabry, and Michael Olise forming the supporting cast for the home side.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Laimer, Tah, Upamecano, Stanisic; Kimmich, Goretzka; Olise, Gnabry, Diaz; Kane

Chelsea

Like his counterpart in the Bayern Munich dugout, Enzo Maresca has no new issues to worry about ahead of the trip to the Allianz Arena. The Chelsea manager may be without as many as seven first-team players on Wednesday.

Levi Colwill is the most notable absentee, with the youngster recovering from a long-term knee injury. The Englishman accompanies Dario Essugo (hamstring) and Liam Delap (ankle) on the sidelines. Meanwhile, Maresca is sweating over the fitness of Benoit Badiashile, Romeo Lavia, and Estevao Willian.

Additionally, Mykhailo Mudryk continues serving a suspension after failing a doping test several months ago. Meanwhile, there has been an update on Chelsea’s squad for the first phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League, as they have added Facundo Buonanotte to the group due to Essugo’s indefinite absence.

Robert Sanchez will take his spot between the sticks, with Chelsea lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Bayern Munich on Wednesday. The backline will likely feature Reece James, Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah, and Marc Cucurella.

As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez in the double pivot. Cole Palmer will reprise the no. 10 role, with Pedro Neto and Jamie Gittens being the two wide attackers. Finally, Joao Pedro will lead the line for Chelsea against Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Gittens; Joao Pedro

Key Stats

• Bayern Munich have won three of their last four games vs Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League (D1, lost on penalties in the 2011/12 final), including wins in both legs against the West London club in the 2019/20 last 16, their most recent meetings (3-0 away and 4-1 at home). The Blues have lost 60 per cent of their games against Bayern Munich in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League (W1 D1 L3), their highest loss rate against any side they have faced on five or more occasions across the two competitions. Only Barcelona (4) have more total wins against them in the European Cup/Champions League.
• Bayern Munich have lost only one of their last 11 home games against English sides in the UEFA Champions League (W8 D2), with that defeat coming against Liverpool in March 2019 (3-1). The Bundesliga giants have beaten five English sides in this run, including Chelsea (W3 vs Arsenal, W1 vs Manchester City, W2 vs Manchester United and W1 vs Tottenham Hotspur).
• Since 2003/04, when the second group stage was removed, Bayern Munich have the highest win percentage in the group/league phase of the UEFA Champions League (73%), winning 93 of 128 matches outside of the knockout stages.
• Bayern Munich averaged the most high-intensity pressures in the final third per game in the UEFA Champions League last season (122.1). They also ranked first overall (1,709) despite only playing 14 of the 17 possible games in 2024/25.
• Across the last three seasons (since 2022/23), Joshua Kimmich leads all players in the UEFA Champions League for completed passes (2,525) and chances created (83). Meanwhile, in the 2024/25 campaign, he was the top-ranked player in the competition for line-breaking passes (219).

Player to Watch

Cole Palmer

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While Joao Pedro, Harry Kane, and Luis Diaz were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Cole Palmer as the Player to Watch for Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League clash between Bayern Munich and Chelsea at the Allianz Arena.

The English international has been directly involved in eight goals in his last eight club games in international competition (G3 A5), three of which came in his last such appearance in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final versus Paris Saint-Germain (G2 A1). Expect Palmer to be the go-to man for Enzo Maresca in the midweek European tie.

Prediction

Bayern Munich 2-1 Chelsea

Wednesday’s match features two of the few unbeaten teams in Europe’s top-five leagues, but there is a clear distinction between these sides. Chelsea may have become a more consistent team under Enzo Maresca, but they continue to show a soft underbelly, which Bayern Munich can exploit.

With Harry Kane in the form of his life and Luis Diaz failing to contribute to a goal in only one competitive game since joining Bayern Munich, the home side will have the upper hand. However, Chelsea will not go down without a fight, with Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro giving the home side’s defenders a run for their money. The Hard Tackle predicts a hard-fought 2-1 win for Vincent Kompany and his charges.