Blockbuster Opening Clash in the UEFA Champions League Between Bayern and Chelsea

Bayern Munich and Chelsea will renew memories of their 2012 final showdown when they kick off their UEFA Champions League campaign at the Allianz Arena — the very ground where the London side famously won the title on penalties at the expense of the hosts.

With the German champions making eye-catching reinforcements — particularly in attack with the signing of Colombian star Luis Díaz, who has scored four goals and provided two assists in his first five Bundesliga appearances — Chelsea are expected to face a stern challenge. Bayern will be determined to avoid a repeat of last season’s scenario and secure direct qualification to the knockout stages, rather than being forced into a two-legged playoff.

Fans of both clubs will also be eager to see whether Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson will feature, with his loan move from Chelsea to Bayern having caused a stir and nearly collapsing just hours before the transfer window closed.

Jackson came on as a substitute in his Bayern debut on Saturday, and German media expect him to start against his former club. He was brought in as cover for England star Harry Kane, last season’s Bundesliga top scorer.

Kane himself dismissed the notion that Jackson is simply a backup, saying: “A lot of people assume that, but he’s a player who can play in all four attacking positions, and I think we’ll play together many times.” He added: “I don’t see him as just a substitute, but as a striker who can help us.”

Here are some key stats to help you predict the correct score and win valuable prizes with Betway:

• Bayern Munich have won three of their last four matches against Chelsea in the Champions League (drawing once and losing on penalties in the 2011-12 final), including their last two matches in the 2019-20 Round of 16 (3-0 away and 4-1 at home).
• Chelsea have lost 60% of their matches against Bayern Munich in the European Cup/Champions League (W1 D1 L3) — their highest loss percentage against any side they’ve faced at least five times in the competition.
• Bayern have lost only once in their last 11 home games against English sides in the Champions League (W8 D2), that defeat coming against Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool in March 2019 (3-1). They’ve beaten five different English clubs in this run, including Chelsea (3 wins against Arsenal, 1 against Manchester City, 2 against Manchester United, and 1 against Tottenham Hotspur).
• Since the 2003-04 season, Bayern Munich have the highest group-stage win percentage in Champions League history (73%), winning 93 of their 128 matches (excluding knockout rounds).
• Chelsea star Cole Palmer has been involved in eight goals in his last eight international club appearances for the Blues (3 goals, 5 assists), including three goal contributions in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain (2 goals, 1 assist).
• Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has 99 wins in the Champions League (150 appearances) and could become just the fourth player to reach 100 wins, joining Cristiano Ronaldo (115), Thomas Müller (111), and Iker Casillas (101).

When the Champions League heats up with clashes like Bayern vs Chelsea, smart fans in UAE know there’s only one place to back their predictions — Betway, the region’s most trusted online betting site.