Champions League Matchday 1: Bayern vs Chelsea facts

Chelsea return to the scene of their first UEFA Champions League triumph when they travel to Bayern München on Matchday 1.

Last match 

This is a repeat of the 2012 final at the Fußball Arena München when Chelsea lifted the trophy for the first time with a 4-3 penalty shoot-out victory against Bayern following a 1-1 draw.

The teams' most recent encounters were in the 2019/20 round of 16, Bayern winning 3-0 in London and 4-1 in Munich on their way to lifting the trophy.

This is the first time the teams have met in the group stage/league phase.

Bayern have won eight of their last ten home matches against English teams (D1 L1).

Chelsea have won their last two games against German teams 2-0 and have lost only two of their last 11 Champions League group stage/league phase matches against Bundesliga clubs (W7 D2).

Bayern

Bayern have featured in the Champions League proper in every season since 2008/09, reaching the knockout rounds every time.

Overall, this is Bayern's 29th campaign in the Champions League proper, fewer only than Barcelona and Real Madrid (both 30).

Twelfth in last season's league phase (W5 L3), the German club beat Celtic 3-2 on aggregate in the knockout phase play-offs and Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 in the last 16 before losing to Inter in the quarter-finals (1-2 h, 2-2 a).

Bayern have won their opening match in each of last 21 Champions League campaigns, keeping 18 clean sheets, since a 2-3 home defeat by Deportivo La Coruña in September 2002.

Chelsea

This is Chelsea's 20th Champions League campaign, and a first since 2022/23, when they reached the quarter-finals – they have reached the knockout rounds in their last eight campaigns.

Enzo Maresca's side won the UEFA Conference League in 2024/25, beating Real Betis 4-1 in the final.

Key stats

Nicolas Jackson joined Bayern on loan from Chelsea on 1 September.

Bayern have been beaten in only three of their last 48 group stage/league phase games (W41 D4).

The Munich club are unbeaten in their last 34 home group stage/league phase matches (W32 D2), since a 2-3 loss against Manchester City in December 2013.

Bayern have scored in 54 of their last 56 Champions League matches in Munich.

Chelsea have been victorious in 12 of their last 13 European games (L1).

The Blues have won their last ten games in the group stage/league phase of UEFA competition.

Chelsea have lost only two of their last 23 matches in the Champions League group stage/league phase (W15 D6).