The UEFA Champions League season begins for two England international stars as Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich host Cole Palmer’s Chelsea in Bavaria on Wednesday.
Bayern are hoping to pair a domestic league title with a deep European run for the first time in three years, having been knocked out in the Champions League quarterfinals each of the last two campaigns.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are back in Europe’s top competition after finishing fourth in the Premier League while winning the UEFA Conference League title last season. The Blues completely overhauled their squad yet again this summer and are hoping to crack on with improved talent behind Palmer and the rest of Enzo Maresca’s core.
The Sporting News is following the Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea match live, providing score updates, commentary, and analysis.
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Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea score
| Score (Pregame) | Goal scorers | |
| Bayern Munich | – | – |
| Chelsea | – | – |
Location: Allianz Arena (Munich, Germany)
Referee: Jose Sanchez (ESP)
Starting lineups (predicted):
Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1, right to left): Neuer (GK) — Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Stanisic — Kimmich, Pavlovic — Olise, Gnabry, Diaz — Kane
Chelsea (4-2-3-1, right to left): Sanchez (GK) — James, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella — Fernandez, Caicedo — Neto, Palmer, Garnacho — Pedro
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Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea live updates, highlights from UEFA Champions League
1 hour 45 mins to kick: Since joining Chelsea, the Blues stood firmly behind striker Nicolas Jackson even as he struggled with finishing chances through the early part of his time at Stamford Bridge. Then, suddenly, he was on the outside looking in, as Joao Pedro emphatically supplanted Jackson in the depth chart.
With Jackson being shopped in the summer transfer window, he seemed firmly intent on leaving, and when Bayern Munich showed interest, he took the chance to get out of London, even reportedly waiving some money to facilitate the deal.
“When Bayern calls and says they want you, you don’t think twice,” Jackson told German publication Bild. “You’re simply excited and ready to join.”
2 hours to kickoff: Bayern will hope they are better prepared for the absence of Jamal Musiala, who is missing after a horror injury in the Club World Cup over the summer. Musiala also suffered an injury late last season which scuppered the club’s Champions League campaign, leaving them toothless against Inter Milan in the quarterfinals.
Now that they’ve had ample time to prepare for his lengthy absence, Vincent Kompany hopes that the likes of Michael Olise, Luis Diaz, and Serge Gnabry can overcome the gap in creativity to leave them better prepared for performances against top clubs.
Kompany on last season’s injuries in the decisive phase: “Dayot Upamecano, Manuel Neuer, Alphonso Davies or Jamal Musiala have been injured in big games, that’s part of it. You also just need luck sometimes. It was looking good for a long while last season, then a lot of things… pic.twitter.com/NtUgBqpVWr
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) September 16, 2025
Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea kick off time
This Champions League league phase match kicks off from Allianz Arena on Wednesday, September 17 at 9 p.m. local time in Munich, Germany.
Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| USA/Canada | Wed, Sep. 17 | 3 p.m. ET |
| USA/Canada | Wed, Sep. 17 | 12 p.m. PT |
| UK | Wed, Sep. 17 | 8 p.m. BST |
| Australia | Thu, Sep. 18 | 5 a.m. AEST |
| India | Thu, Sep. 18 | 12:30 a.m. IST |
Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea lineups, team news
The Bavarians will be without some key players. For instance, former Chelsea youngster Jamal Musiala is out as he continues to recover from the leg and ankle break he suffered at the Club World Cup.
Musiala is joined on the treatment table by defenders Hiroki Ito and Alphonso Davies, and Kompany’s left-back dilemma is now further complicated by a rib injury to Raphael Guerreiro, who was brought on at halftime against Hamburg before having to come off again 17 minutes later.
Chelsea loanee Nicolas Jackson can play against his parent club, although he is likely to start on the bench as he backs up England star Harry Kane.
Bayern Munich projected starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer (GK) — Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Stanisic — Kimmich, Pavlovic — Olise, Gnabry, Diaz — Kane
Bayern Munich subs: (Lineups released approximately one hour prior to kickoff)
Chelsea’s talisman, Cole Palmer, is expected to start after coming off the bench to score in their last league game against Brentford on Saturday.
However, the visitors will be without Levi Colwill, Liam Delap, Benoit Badiashile, Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo, and the banned Mykhaylo Mudryk. Essugo’s absence meant that Chelsea could officially add Facundo Buonanotte to their European roster after he was initially left off.
Meanwhile, teenage sensation Estevao Willian is a doubt for the Blues after missing Saturday’s game through illness.
Chelsea projected starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez (GK) — James, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella — Fernandez, Caicedo — Neto, Palmer, Garnacho — Pedro
Chelsea subs: (Lineups released approximately one hour prior to kickoff)
Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea live stream, TV channel
Here is how to watch the match in some of the world’s major regions:
