Chelsea player ratings vs Bayern Munich: Cole Palmer can't do it all! Errors from Trevoh Chalobah & Moises Caicedo prove costly on Blues' Champions League return

Chelsea lose at Bayern in CL opener

Chelsea endured a disappointing return to the Champions League as they succumbed to a Harry Kane double in a 3-1 loss at Bayern Munich on Wednesday evening. The Blues - competing in Europe’s premier club competition for the first time since 2022-23 - played well for large spells but they could not build on Cole Palmer’s brilliant first-half strike as Vincent Kompany’s men emerged victorious at the Allianz Arena.

Enzo Maresca’s side started the game brightly, creating a few half chances through the marauding Malo Gusto down the right-hand side, but they fell behind when Michael Olise’s low cross was put into his own net by Trevoh Chalobah. And it looked like it was going to be a long evening for Chelsea when Moises Caicedo brought down Bayern star Kane inside the penalty area, with the England international converting the resulting spot-kick in emphatic fashion.

The visitors didn't give up, though, and they reduced the arrears just two minutes later when Palmer - Chelsea's main man once again - curled a beautiful effort past Manuel Neuer. However Maresca's men found it difficult to make inroads in the second half and after Gusto lost possession in a perilous position, Kane then latched onto Serge Gnabry's pass to kill the contest.

Here, GOAL rates the Chelsea players on show at the Allianz Arena...

FC Bayern München v Chelsea FC - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1

Goalkeeper & Defence

Robert Sanchez (7/10):

He couldn't do anything to prevent either goal going in, but made good saves to prevent both Harry Kane and Michael Olise scoring in the second half.

Malo Gusto (6/10):

The right-back registered an assist after playing a brilliant one-two with Cole Palmer in the build up to Chelsea's goal, but lost the ball which led to Bayern's third.

Tosin Adarabioyo (5/10):

He missed the Olise cross that brought about Bayern's opener, taking an air shot as the ball came in, but it was fizzed in low and hard, to be fair.

Trevoh Chalobah (5/10):

Put through his own net as Bayern took the lead, but it was the type of cross which is always tough for defenders to deal with.

Marc Cucurella (5/10):

The Spain international had a difficult evening up against Olise, who got past him on a number of occasions.

FC Bayern München v Chelsea FC - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1

Midfield

Reece James (6/10):

Lost the ball but then won it again as he launched the counter-attack that led to Palmer's strike.

Moises Caicedo (6/10):

Gave the penalty away with a rash challenge on Kane but went some way to making amends by carrying Chelsea forward for Palmer's goal.

FC Bayern München v Chelsea FC - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1

Attack

Cole Palmer (8/10):

Chelsea's brightest spark as usual, he bent a lovely curling effort past Manuel Neuer in the first half. He thought he had a second goal late on, which he took brilliantly, but he was offside.

Enzo Fernandez (6/10):

Operating further forward, the Argentine ace got into a couple of promising positions but was often thwarted at the last moment by Bayern's defence.

Pedro Neto (6/10):

The winger was lively on the counter but whenever he got into a good position, there was rarely anything on, meaning he was left to recycle possession.

Joao Pedro (5/10):

He was beaten by Olise in the lead up to Bayern's opener, while Chelsea's most promising moments fell to other players.

FC Bayern München v Chelsea FC - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1

Subs & Manager

Alejandro Garnacho (6/10):

The wide man replaced Pedro Neto in the second half and made a few good bursts down the left-hand side.

Andrey Santos (6/10):

Replacing captain Reece James, the young midfielder thought he set up a second goal for Palmer, but the forward was narrowly offside.

Estevao (N/A):

A late second-half substitute, he didn't really have enough time to make an impact.

Enzo Maresca (5/10):

Opted to start Malo Gusto at right-back and while the former Lyon man provided an assist, he also contributed heavily to Bayern's third.